Just for fun, here are 10 of the most recognized opening lines in poetry. Without Googling, how many of the poets can you identify? I'm asking that readers, even those of you that know all 10, just pick one each to identify in the comments.
1. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways
2. In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
3. O, my luve is like a red, red rose
4. 'Twas brillig and the slithy toves
5. Whose woods these are I think I know
6. Do not go gentle into that good night
7. Because I could not stop for death
8. anyone lived in a pretty how town
9. The Northern Lights have seen queer sights
10. I saw the best minds of my generations, destroyed by madness
Easy? Any more notable openers you can think of?
25 comments:
The CanCon Classics Edition
1. If this brain's overtempered
2. It was taken some time ago
3. Marita
4. Alligator Pie, Alligator Pie,
(I could not resist the last one)
As for the 10, I managed 6.
Remi: I only recognized the last one (Dennis Lee). But seeing as we're doing Canadian first lines;
1. "In Flanders fields the poppies blow"
2. "It took the sea a thousand years"
3. "You fit into me"
Rats! had to Google the last one - and then kick myself.
I think my favourite first line is: Busie olde foole, unruly sunne
Remi: After searching, I'm more than a little ashamed I'd not gotten #3. Oh and feel free to pick one of the six you know, and expose who it was.
GeraniumCat: No worries, I had to Google yours too. And all but one of Remi's. And as I told Remi above, feel free to tell the readers one of the nine that you recognized.
Since I've been experimenting with villanelle's, number 6 was a snap. I knew 7 of the 10. I had to Google the ones I didn't know.
And in these days of war, I'd be surprised if folks don't know about McCrae's poem. It is achingly beautiful.
Thanks for the quiz! It's always a treat to exercise those trivia muscles!
Number 10 was easy. Ginsberg's Howl is still one of my all-time favourites.
I knew 8 without hesitation. Nice picks, all.
I loved seeing Dickinson in there with Because I could not stop for Death, which is right up there with her I heard a fly buzz when I died for memorable Dickinson death poems.
Here's another for the list:
"Afoot and light-hearted, I take to the open road"
Aaargh! Robert Service! That was THE thing to memorize for some reason with one of my teachers. Eeek, what memories.
I'll just take the first one: Elizabeth Barret-Browning.
I only got 7 as well. More famous opening lines...
1. "The road goes ever on and on"
2. "Little Lamb who made thee"
3. "She walks in beauty like the night"
4. "'Just the place for a Snark!' the Bellman cried"
5. "If we must die, let it not be like hogs"
6. "The wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees"
7. "Between plunging valleys, in a bareback of hill"
8. "The woods decay, the woods decay and fall"
9. "It little profits that an idle king"
10. "Do you remember an inn, Miranda?"
I betray my Anglo bias. :) It's what I was raised on.
"There once was a man from Nantucket,"
Tricia: I think the McCrae poem is one of those that loads of people recognize but few people pay attention to the author.
Remi: A classic, for sure.
Kelly: I knew I'd read that line before, but I had to look it up.
Tadmack: I don't remember ever having to memorize a poem for school. Maybe parts of "'Twas the night before Christmas".
Imani: I suck at this. I only recognized about half your lines, and knew none of the poets behind them.
Corey: (And I said with a grin) I almost included that one myself. Good luck correctly crediting that one!
I loved your list. How about the following on that easy list?
"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,"
Imani ~ I loved your list as well.
~quoting beth: Finally, one I know! POE.
Oh sure, make me think just before the weekend!
I only knew 6 of them.
As for notable openers, they only one I could think of, which hasn't already been named:
Here I sit, brokenhearted
What? Bathroom wall poetry is valid, innit?
Aren't we supposed to say?
#3. Robert Burns
Mabel Murple's house was purple...
Barbara: Perhaps you and Corey can make an anthology of low-brow poetry ;)
Raidergirl: That was my intention, but what the hey. Yes, Robbie Burns.
So was Mabel's hair...Sheree Fitch. I met her once.
#6 - Dylan Thomas. Love that poem.
I read 'Robert Service' in the comments and thought "wha'?" Oh, so bad. Clearly not paying attn. Sam McGee! How could I have missed the first line?
Ummm "Had we but world enough, and time/"
Since not many are rushing to name your lines, John, I'll take two more: #2 is Colerdige, #4 is Lewis Carroll.
You don't know the poets behind my #3 and #6 at least? For shame. ;) Your #10 is nagging me though. I think I know who it is...
Thanks, Beth. And Carrie your line is Andrew Marvell.
Okay, I'm a genius. I knew all of the poets, but not necessarily the names of the poems. Except I know #10 better as a line from the great They Might Be Giants song, "I Should Be Allowed to Think"
Carrie: I'm not a big Dylan Thomas fan, but I do like that one.
Imani: Remi answered #10 above. And you're right, I should have gotten #6. I even have the Loreena McKennitt song.
Rob: I didn't know that song. Thanks.
I hate it when I'm late to the party! Great conversation! I knew about half of the poets/poems.
Here's one of my favorite firsts:
Life has loveliness to sell
Mary Lee: Not to worry, there's still some punch left ;)
You've stumped me with that one.
And we still have a few of mine left to identify, not to mention almost all of those left in the comments.
I knew 6, or 7, I can't remember. Its a Saturday, I am not made to think today.
Good list though. I have always been a fan of number 8.
OK, of the ones I know that haven't been identified yet:#5 is Robert Frost. And I was waaay off with my #10 guess.
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