Of course! English poetry is a wonderful medium for recitation, as it plays with rhythm, sound, and imagery.
Here is a selection of poems, ranging from classic to modern, that are particularly well-suited for recitation. For each poem, I'll provide:
- The Poem: The full text.
- Why It's Great for Recitation: Key features like rhythm, theme, and emotional impact.
- Tips for Recitation: Practical advice on how to perform it.
"If—" by Rudyard Kipling
This is perhaps the most famous poem on the theme of stoicism and manhood. Its strong, declarative lines and rhythmic structure make it incredibly powerful to speak aloud.
The Poem:
If you can keep your head when all about you Are losing theirs and blaming it on you; If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting, Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies, Or, being hated, don't give way to hating, And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
（图片来源网络，侵删）If you can dream—and not make dreams your master; If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim; If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"
（图片来源网络，侵删）If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you; If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty seconds' worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it, And—which is more—you'll be a Man, my son!
Why It's Great for Recitation:
- Strong Rhythm and Meter: Written in a strong iambic meter, it has a steady, almost marching cadence that builds confidence.
- Universal Theme: The advice on courage, integrity, and resilience is timeless and deeply moving.
- Builds to a Climax: The poem starts with small challenges and builds to a grand finale, making it incredibly satisfying to perform.
Tips for Recitation:
- Pace Yourself: Don't rush. The power is in the deliberate pace. Let each line land.
- Emphasize the "Ifs": Start each new stanza with a clear, strong "If" to signal the new condition.
- Vary Your Intensity: Start with a calm, controlled tone. As the poem builds, especially in the later stanzas, let your voice gain more power and conviction. The final lines should be delivered with great strength and sincerity.
"Do not go gentle into that good night" by Dylan Thomas
A villanelle with a desperate, pleading tone. This poem is a masterpiece of passionate persuasion, perfect for a dramatic and emotional performance.
The Poem:
Do not go gentle into that good night, Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Do not go gentle into that good night.
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height, Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears, I pray. Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Why It's Great for Recitation:
- Refrain Power: The repeated lines ("Do not go gentle..." and "Rage, rage...") act like a chorus, growing more urgent and emotional with each repetition.
- Dramatic Structure: It moves through different types of men (wise, good, wild, grave) to build a powerful argument, finally addressing the father directly.
- Emotional Highs and Lows: It shifts from philosophical observation to raw, personal plea.
Tips for Recitation:
- Build the Refrain: The first time you say "Do not go gentle..." be firm. The second time, more urgent. The final time, it should be a desperate cry.
- Find the Anger and Sadness: This poem is not just anger; it's a mixture of fury, love, and profound grief. Let your voice reflect this complexity.
- Pause for Effect: The line breaks are crucial. Pause before the repeated lines to let their weight sink in.
"The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost
A classic that is both simple and deeply philosophical. Its conversational tone makes it accessible, while its message gives it weight.
The Poem:
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair, And having perhaps the better claim, Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that the passing there Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh Somewhere ages and ages hence: Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.
Why It's Great for Recitation:
- Narrative Quality: It tells a small, personal story, which is easy for an audience to follow.
- Reflective Tone: The poem is about memory and reflection, so your voice should carry a sense of nostalgia and thoughtfulness.
- Famous, Punchline Ending: The final lines are one of the most famous in English poetry, delivering a powerful, conclusive statement.
Tips for Recitation:
- Set the Scene: Start in a calm, storytelling voice. Paint the picture of the "yellow wood."
- Convey the Hesitation: When you get to "Oh, I kept the first for another day!", make it sound like a moment of hopeful rationalization, even if you doubt it.
- Land the Final Line: The last line, "And that has made all the difference," should be delivered with a mix of certainty and the weight of a life-defining choice. A slight sigh before it can be very effective.
"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou
A modern classic of empowerment and resilience. Its rhythmic, almost gospel-like quality makes it incredibly uplifting and powerful to recite.
The Poem:
You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops, Weakened by my soulful cries?
Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own backyard.
You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.
Why It's Great for Recitation:
- Incredibly Rhythmic: The poem has a strong, percussive rhythm that feels like a chant or a song.
- Powerful Repetition: The phrase "Still I rise" acts as a defiant and empowering refrain.
- Triumphant Arc: It moves from defiance to a declaration of power and heritage, culminating in a soaring crescendo.
Tips for Recitation:
- Find the Rhythm: Feel the beat in the poem. It's not just about the words, but the music behind them. Clap it out or tap your foot to find the pulse.
- Start Strong and Defiant: The opening lines should be confident and challenging.
- Build to the Climax: As the poem progresses, especially in the final stanzas, let your voice grow in volume, passion, and power. The final "I rise" repetitions should be a triumphant, full-throated declaration.
General Tips for Any Poetry Recitation:
- Understand the Poem: Before you can deliver it, you have to understand it. Who is the speaker? What is the mood? What is the story?
- Read It Alot: Read the poem silently, then out loud, many times. Get comfortable with the words and the flow.
- Mark It Up: Print out the poem and mark it up. Note where to pause, which words to emphasize, and where the volume or tone should change.
- Use Your Voice: Play with pitch, pace, and volume. Slow down for important lines. Speed up for excitement. Raise your voice for anger or passion. Lower it for intimacy or sadness.
- Make Eye Contact: Connect with your audience. Don't just stare at the page.
- Breathe: Breathe from your diaphragm. It gives you more breath support and a more powerful voice. Pause to breathe at natural breaks in the poem.
Enjoy the process! Reciting poetry is a beautiful way to connect with the language and share its power with others.
