Another poem that my mother used to recite was this litte one. I think it struck all too true with her as she herded us kids along.
Timothy Took His Time
by Frieda Wolfe
Timothy took his time to school
and plenty of time he took
but some he lost at the tadpole pool
and more at the stickleback brook
ever so much at the linets nest
and more at the five bar gate.
Timothy took his time to school
but he lost it all and was late.
Timothy has a lot to do,
how can it all be done?
He didn't get home 'til close on 2
when he might have been home by 1.
There's sums & writing & spelling too
And an apple tree to climb.
Timothy has a lot to do,
how shall he find the time?
Timothy sought it high and low,
he looked in the tadpole pool
To see if they'd taken the time to grow, that he'd lost on the way to school.
He found the nest and he found the
tree
And he found the gate he'd crossed
But Timothy never shall find (ah me!) the time that Timothy lost!
Love this poem, my mum used to recite it to me too!!
ReplyDeleteDon't you just have to love that we had mothers who took the time to read us poetry. It makes (and made) all the difference. I'm closing in fast on 60 and yet I remember this poem like it was yesterday that I sat on my Mum's lap listening to it.
ReplyDeleteOf all the wonderful things my mother gave me, after her love for Jesus, her love for poetry was the greatest. These were just a few of her gems. We would sit at her feet while she ironed or whatever she was doing and just listen and ask for more. What an awesome legacy! It sounds like you also share the blessings of a wonderful woman. These are the blessings that stay with us long after our mothers are gone.
ReplyDeleteI learnt this poem in grade six in 1977. My teacher seem to love poetry and insisted that we know it too. after soo many years I still remember it as if it was yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI learned this poem at school when I was about 8 or 9 years old.It often comes into my memory over the past 70 odd years.The poem reminds me of trudging to school and looking for birds nests in the hedges.
DeleteSomehow I never liked poetry in school, I guess it just didn't seem cool. However, I secretly learned and loved the poems my mother recited. Later, I let myself admit I loved poetry but it won't never have happened without my mom's poems.
ReplyDeleteLearned this one in primary school at Abbots Leigh in the 50's and recite it now to my 12 yrs old grand-daughter. Brian Livings
ReplyDeleteThis poem has always confused and irritated me .Whatever he may have lost in "time" he would have gained in the development of his own self - you could say - his own soul, being allowed to be a child.
ReplyDeleteThis poem was set to music and our school choir sang it one year - probably around 1960. Later, Donovan put his own melody to it and released it in 1971 on the LP "H.M.S. Donovan". Whatever Timothy gained, he certainly lost time....
ReplyDelete@Victoria Vaughan : Ha ha! Too true! But I think, Wolfe is only too aware of the two conflicting viewpoints, just as in "Choosing Shoes" ... I wish I could find more of her poems, she must have written more than two!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in Grade 4 in 1956, I recited this poem in the school verse speaking contest. Won third prize (McHugh Public School Brampton Ontario). I have never forgotten it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWell my mate Bernie got a distinction when she was in secondary school in Belfast (up the Falls Road - if you knew where this was you would be as surprised as everyone else was).
DeleteThis poem narrating very beautiful and touched my heart. When I studying Timothy I felt sorry about him.
ReplyDeleteMiss I. Chambers our grade six teacher taught us this poem in Kingston Jamaica (Boys Town All Age School)1990. She recited it with such passion it stuck all these years and I'm now able to recite it to my daughter after all these years...
ReplyDeleteAs I walk down memory lane,I fondly recollect that,that was our Daddy's favorite poem....and he used to recite it with such passion & fervour.Daddy taught us time management, through this inspiring poem.Thank you,for reviving such a meaningful piece of poetry.
ReplyDeleteIn 2008 I was in 8th grade. This poem was in my syllabus. I don't know its value and meaning at that time. And now I am finding this poem as one of valuable advice. I tried to find this on the web and today I found it.
ReplyDeleteWhen was this poem written?
ReplyDelete