Lower School Challenge:Who Has Seen The Wind by Christina Rossetti

If you are age 9, 10, or 11, I would love to have your video of this poem.  In the meantime, enjoy this version by Susan Baba.

Lower School Challenge: The Duel by Eugene Field

The Duel by EUGENE FIELD, recited by Ms Ananya Passi. Ananya, you are a joy to watch. Keep up the good work!

Tween Challenge:The Arrow and the Song by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

This video was put together by a high school student, Kristin Loghry. Let's hear from some of you middle schoolers! Can you top Kristin's video of The  Arrow and the Song?

Tween Challenge: The Tiger by William Blake

Here we have two members of the Barker family, from the United Kingdom. We'll be hearing more from this family. They have many poetry selections on Youtube, and all good ones, too. Keep spreading the word, Barkers!

Tween Challenge: The Jabberwocky

If you are between the ages of 11-14, and can top Chris Hemmon's "Jabberwocky," your face should be here!

Tween Challenge: "Solitude" by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Finally! Here is a performance by someone in the age range I have targeted for this poem! How about it, middle-schoolers - If you can top Melodie Cyr's recitation of "Solitude," I want to hear from you!

Gail McGaffigan Stricken at Home; Grateful for Survival

Dear Friends,

I have been hospitalized in Neural Intensive Care since Wed., Jan. 21, after suffering a ruptured brain aneurism. I will be here for some time. Although my recovery is a very painful road, I am expecting an excellent outcome.

It will be a while before I'm well enough to write again. In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy my existing blogs and books.

Please do not send any flowers or money, but cards and letters would be very much appreciated; not just for myself, but also for my husband and children who are struggling with this.
(I do not wish to attract spammers, but please be sure to address this as you would a typical PO Box)...

Mrs. Gail McGaffigan
Post Office Box SIX TWO TWO TWO
Warwick, Rhode Island ZERO TWO EIGHT EIGHT SEVEN

This is also a critical time to pray for me not to have a relapse; I am at high risk for that for at least another week, before my chances begin to improve. Pray that I do not suffer any "vasospasms," or at least that I am strong enough to bear them.

Sincerely,

Gail

Teen Challenge: Dream Within A Dream - Edgar Allan Poe

OK, this man is not really a teen, either; but, hey, he's great! Can you top his recitation? Send us your performance!

Teen Challenge: 'Death Be Not Proud' by John Donne

Yup, we need a teen doing a vid of this one, too. In the meantime, watch Julian Glover and prepare to be inspired!

Teen Challenge: Love's Philosophy by Percy Bysshe Shelley

Teens, can any one of you rival John Doyle's reading of this poem? Send in your video (serious entries, only; no snarky stuff, please).

Teen Challenge: The Daffodils by William Wordsworth

I could listen to this Youtube poster all day. His tone and expression are so touching, don't you think so? We need a video of a teen doing this poem

Adult Challenge: "The Village Blacksmith" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Jonathan F. Jones does a great job here, but I much prefer videos that show you, our readers, performing the poetry for us.  Well, how about it? Will you be the one to send me the definitive Classical Reciter video of "The Village Blacksmith?" 

The Village Blacksmith Challenge

Below is the poem. I need a good YouTube video of someone, preferably an adult, reciting this poem. After you upload your vid to YouTube, post the link here in the Comment form.

You can do it!

The Village Blacksmith

Under a spreading chestnut-tree
The village smithy stands;
The smith, a mighty man is he,
With large and sinewy hands;
And the muscles of his brawny arms
Are strong as iron bands.

His hair is crisp, and black, and long,
His face is like the tan;
His brow is wet with honest sweat,
He earns whate'er he can,
And looks the whole world in the face,
For he owes not any man.

Week in, week out, from morn till night,
You can hear his bellows blow;
You can hear him swing his heavy sledge,
With measured beat and slow,
Like a sexton ringing the village bell,
When the evening sun is low.

And children coming home from school
Look in at the open door;
They love to see the flaming forge,
And bear the bellows roar,
And catch the burning sparks that fly
Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

He goes on Sunday to the church,
And sits among his boys;
He hears the parson pray and preach,
He hears his daughter's voice,
Singing in the village choir,
And it makes his heart rejoice.

It sounds to him like her mother's voice,
Singing in Paradise!
He needs must think of her once more,
How in the grave she lies;
And with his haul, rough hand he wipes
A tear out of his eyes.

Toiling,--rejoicing,--sorrowing,
Onward through life he goes;
Each morning sees some task begin,
Each evening sees it close
Something attempted, something done,
Has earned a night's repose.

Thanks, thanks to thee, my worthy friend,
For the lesson thou hast taught!
Thus at the flaming forge of life
Our fortunes must be wrought;
Thus on its sounding anvil shaped
Each burning deed and thought.

The Classical Reciter book, now available!

It's here, both in print and as an oh-so-affordable ebook. Get your own copy of The Classical Reciter, and start practicing for that video that is going to make you the next online poetry sensation!


Print edition...

http://www.amazon.com/Classical-Reciter-Gail-McGaffigan/dp/1481853775/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356717772&sr=1-2&keywords=Classical+reciter

Kindle or other e book reader edition...

http://www.amazon.com/The-Classical-Reciter-ebook/dp/B00ATWDH7W/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356717640&sr=1-1&keywords=Classical+reciter

I can hardly wait to see your video of one of these great poems. Get busy!

Sincerely,

Gail

Welcome to the Classical Reciter!

 If you are reading this, you belong here! Our purpose is to bring poetry back to all the people of the world, and we need your help. My book, The Classical Reciter, is a collection of the world's favorite poems. You should check it out, because I can promise you that there are poems in there you want to know. It doesn't matter if you are young or old, child or adult, male or female, royalty or a laborer; classical poetry is one of the treasures of mankind, and it belongs to you.

Speak it. We want to hear you, we want to see you speak these words to us. Memorize them in your heart, and you will own them forever. Say them to your parents. Recite them to your children. Learn the English language with them. You will not be sorry.

Prepare for a life-changing experience, because it is impossible to learn classic poetry and not be changed for the better.

Bring your friends! Challenge them. Tell your family, co-workers, schoolmates, teachers, pub buddies that the world is waiting to hear them.

Every week, there will be a new video here with a performance of one of these great poems; but I want to hear your reading. I challenge you to stand and deliver, to speak to the world in these great, time-tested words.

In the meantime, here is a list of poetry challenges coming up for the Spring and Summer. Videos may be sent to classically gail at yahoo dot com (I must show it this way to discourage spammers; please be sure to format it as a normal e mail address).

Upcoming Challenges

Adult, ages 18+:
The Chambered Nautilus ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Teen, ages 13-18: 
The Sin of Omission ~ Margaret Sangster
Bright Star ~ John Keats
If ~ Rudyard Kipling
O Captain! My Captain! ~ Walt Whitman

Tween, ages 11-14:
1914 V: The Soldier ~ Rupert Brooke
Invictus ~ William Ernest Henley

The Road Not Taken ~ Robert Frost

The Camel's Hump ~ Rudyard Kipling

Elementary, ages 6-11:

A Visit from St. Nicholas ~ Clement C. Moore

Marjorie's Almanac ~ Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Monday's Child ~ Mother Goose

I Had a Little Nut Tree ~ Mother Goose

Preschool, ages 2-5:

Diddle Diddle Dumpling ~ Mother Goose
The Church ("Here is the church, and here is the steeple...") ~ Trad.

Submission Guidelines

Introduce yourself and let us know where you are from.
Your English need not be perfect, but please speak clearly, and use expression

Do not rush.
This is a family-friendly site - Please, no revealing clothing or rude language.
Preference will be given to solo reciters.
We can only accept poems listed on this site.

All poems used on this site are included in my book, The Classical Reciter, which is now available as an e book, with the print version coming very soon. For now, you can get it by clicking here.

Looking forward to hearing from you!