3+ Ways to Memorize Your Poems for Performances

[@jeffw1267]

While not a professional, I've spent my life memorizing poetry and prose, and I've learned hundreds of thousands of words. The absolute most important thing I've learned is that the subconcious mind needs time to absorb and work on material. If I have an unlimited amount of time to learn a block of material, I won't ever practice the same material more than once on the same day. It helps my long-term memory if I allow my mind to rest on the material. If I have a limited amount of time to learn something, I would practice it more than once per day, but I would take breaks between learning sessions. I'd wait at least an hour between sessions and concentrate on something else in between learning sessions. I've also found that the whole method is better than the part method for learning a block of material, even if the block is pretty long. I learned Gunga Din this way, although it is over 500 words long, and it took me about two weeks to learn the poem, including all the puntcuation and contractions so I can write it out the way the author did. If I'd practiced more than one time per day, I'd have needed more repetitions to memorize it, though the total number of days spent learning would have been lessened. My method only cost me about forty-five minutes of learning time to learn the poem by heart. Lastly, I think it's important to clear the mind during learning sessions. The information does not disappear: it is simply pushed dowm into the subconcious mind. Each time you go back and retrieve the information it is a little easier to do.

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

That's amazing. We set so many songs to memory, I'm glad you've seen poetry the same way. And I've seen this subconscious phenomena in my own work. I practice poems diligently, like a musician, for a certain time blocked out in a day. And if I'm struggling with a section or the poem becomes to cumbersome, I know all I need is rest. After a good night's sleep or while in the show, I'll be able to rattle off the poem with the line that I needed assistance with. This is a gold comment, poet! I'm pinning it for others. Thanks for the wisdom!

[@toddjacksonpoetry]

I'm *definitely* reposting this. Great advice throughout, Dimitri. I just started giving readings again after committing first to publishing and then to making videos. The first time I read it was my villanelle about homelessness. I ended up triggering *myself* and completely locked up. Got the shakes, the whole works. And I was reading off the page! Lucky for me it was a friendly, intimate crowd, and they patiently helped me steady myself and let me catch my breath so I could finish. I'm going to apply these tips ahead of my reading next week. I hate going up there and having to read off a page.

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

Todd, thanks for commenting and thanks for reposting! It's great when there's a warm and intimate crowd. Glad they were so supportive! It's been a few days. How has your memorizing practice been going? If you need to still use the page, use it and just do your best to make those words jump off the page!

[@toddjacksonpoetry]

@@DimitriReyesPoet I'll feel more relaxed just having it with me, even if I have remembered the poems and am just waving the pages around like Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. What I've ended up doing, though, was writing and making a new one altogether. Just released it, so recording the audio counts as "practice," I suppose.

[@DannahLexynVillanueva]

Thanks this will definitly help me for reciting my poem and also i feel so confident with all those motivation this is a great video good thing i found it

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

So... did you ever memorize it?! 😁

[@DannahLexynVillanueva]

@@DimitriReyesPoet yup

[@Blessing-pt4qb]

TY A LOT MAN. This totally saved me.

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

You're welcome! 🦸🏽‍♂️

[@bulichick3113]

Bro i know im late but thanks still!!!

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

So happy you found this helpful. Tell me about your memorizing experience!

[@moderndayaphorismswithUncleRay]

✌️, 💓 And Many More 🙏 Blessing's To All In Their Life ♻️ And In All Your Future Endeavors 🫂....

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

Thanks you!

[@JaciniaPerez]

OOOOH name drop lol. You edited this so well but you take so long to edit lol. It is good though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

Thaaaanks! I'm trying what I can to keep up with your channel :-). But I am SUPER slow. But I love doing it!

[@lmao1660]

thanks bro, my procrastinating ass left a 102 line poem for wednesday and idk what to do

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

Did you ever get through the poem?

[@lmao1660]

@@DimitriReyesPoet ye

[@_bpgreat_]

I have an performance in a couple of hours and I can’t memorize shit

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

How did the performance go?

[@karolarenteria2305]

Nah I finally remember a poem😂😊😢😮😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😢😢😢c😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

That's great news!!!

[@King-Schnitzel]

I'm trying, I'll come back.

[@kathryncost851]

r u back yet?

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

This is the poetry community checking in... Are you back yet?!? 👀

[@marcf6092]

promosm ❗

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

Yes!

[@P.EnglishLiterature]

Hi, I thought about contacting you via email but I couldn't find your email, how can I contact you? I would love to be featured on your show.

[@DimitriReyesPoet]

Hello! I'm not currently taking any features for my interview series. But if you'd like to email me, you can use my contact form: www.dimitrireyespoet.com/contactform/