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[–><!–>“Recuerdo,” first published in 1919 in Poetry magazine, is the recollection of a night out on the town — or more precisely on the water, presumably the stretch of New York Harbor served by the Staten Island Ferry. We asked some friends of the Book Review — poets, novelists, playwrights, actors and other literature lovers — to recite it for us, and a bunch said yes.–><!–>
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Recuerdo
Wewereverytired,wewereverymerry—
Wehadgonebackandforthallnightontheferry.
Itwasbareandbright,andsmelledlikeastable—
Butwelookedintoafire,weleanedacrossatable,
Welayonahill–topunderneaththemoon;
Andthewhistleskeptblowing,andthedawncamesoon.
Ada Limón, U.S. poet laureate
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Wewereverytired,wewereverymerry—
Wehadgonebackandforthallnightontheferry;
Andyouateanapple,andIateapear,
Fromadozenofeachwehadboughtsomewhere;
Andtheskywentwan,andthewindcamecold,
Andthesunrosedripping,abucketfulofgold.
Ina Garten, cook and author
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Wewereverytired,wewereverymerry,
Wehadgonebackandforthallnightontheferry.
Wehailed,“Goodmorrow,mother!”toashawl–coveredhead,
Andboughtamorningpaper,whichneitherofusread;
Andshewept,“Godblessyou!”fortheapplesandpears,
Andwegaveherallourmoneybutoursubwayfares.
Ethan Hawke, actor
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Your first task: Learn the first two lines!
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Question 1/3
Let’s start with the refrain. Fill in the rhyming words.
Wewereverytired,wewereverymerry—
Wehadgonebackandforthallnightontheferry.
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Tap a word above to fill in the highlighted blank. Need help? Click “See Full Poem
& Readings” at the top of the page.
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Monday
Learn a poem with us this week. Keep it for a lifetime.
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Tuesday (Available tomorrow)
How rhythm and rhyme make a poem memorable.
Wednesday (Available Apr. 30)
This is a New York poem. After you learn it, you can take it anywhere.
Thursday (Available May 1)
This poem is about staying up all night. Use it to greet the day.
Friday (Available May 2)
We’ve learned a poem this week. Now it’s yours.
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Edited by Gregory Cowles, Alicia DeSantis, Nick Donofrio and Joumana Khatib. Additional editing by
Emily Eakin, Tina Jordan, Laura Thompson and Emma Lumeij. Design and development by Umi Syam and
Eden Weingart. Additional design by Victoria Pandeirada. Video production by Caroline Kim.
Additional video production by McKinnon de Kuyper. Photo editing by Erica Ackerberg. Illustration
art direction by Tala Safie.
Illustrations by Hannah Robinson.
Audio of “Recuerdo” from “Edna St. Vincent Millay in Readings From Her Poems” (1941, RCA); accompanying
photograph from Associated Press.
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Source: Elections - nytimes.com
