It’s an occasional Christmas tradition of mine to read The Cremation of Sam McGee, by the Canadian poet Robert W. Service. This is reading of the poem this morning.
6 thoughts on “A Christmas Poem”
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I always thought it was an odd poem to teach children. We acted it out and I still remember the classmate playing Sam – she was very tall and held stiff because she wore a back brace.
Half the class got Sam, half the class got The Highwayman, which Loreena McKennitt set to music beautifully:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiijr4mdoLE
I heard this poem for the first time at Quaker summer camp in the 70s, recited from memory by Russ Neiger, the camp director. There were certain images and turns of phrase that stuck with me from that moment on, and I’ve studied the poem and have posted it to PW on Christmas before.
I memorized this in sixth grade. What a blast to hear it again. How did it become a tradition for you?
I read that with my students every year.
By the way — the “marge” of Lake Lebarge is the edge or margin. Had to look that up…
Thank you Eric, for sharing this strange cold poem on Christmas Day. It’s sunny and glorious here in Denver, not so cold now as it was at 6am when I awoke. Merry Day Eric, whichever day you celebrate (or don’t!). Hope it’s a beauty!