Each year in our school, we had "Poem Day" when we had to select and recite a poem in front of the other students in our class. One day, I arrived to find that it was "Poem Day". I had embarrassment because I had forgotten to do the assignment. I felt shamefully because I knew that it was my responsibility to remember my homework. As the teacher called students' names, I hid embarrassingly behind the other students. I tried to make myself as small as possible.
When recess came, I ran down to the school library to find a book of poems quickly. Fortunately, the librarian was in the library and was able to help me. I shamed to tell her that I had forgotten to do my homework assignment. She helped me find a book. I opened the book to the shortest poem that I could find and began to memorize it. When the bell rang and recess was over, I walked back into class with my poem in mind and sat down confidently.
In a short while, the teacher called my name, and I stood up. Everyone was looking at me.
My poem is by Shel Silverstein. "Lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy Jane. She wants a drink of water so she waits and waits and waits and waits for it to rain."
The room was silent. "Is that it?" my teacher asked. "Yes," I answered. Everyone laughed, and I felt completely embarrassing. From then on, everyone jokingly called me "Lazy Jane".
assignment (n.) – a piece of work that is given to someone as part of a lesson (or job)
librarian (n) – person who helps people find books in the library
memorize (v.) – remember something so that one can say it without looking at the book
poem (n.) – a piece of writing that expresses emotions, experiences, and ideas, especially in short lines using words that often rhyme (end with the same sound).
recess (n.) – a 15 minute break (play time)
recite (v.) – say from memory (not reading it off paper)