Another Humorous Murray Moment

The other night Gretchen was down again, looking through home school stuff, and getting me to write out a copy of the poem listing the kings of England that I'd made my Brit Lit students memorize.

Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve,
Harry, Dick, John, Harry Three,
Edward One, Two, Three, Dick Two,
Harry Four, Five, Six, then who?
Etc.

Dad and Mom were reading, meanwhile, and Kimberly was working on a summer assignment for her ESL course. She interrupted our various reveries to say that she was supposed to give a report of how she liked the course, and she was just going to say it was good, even though she hated it and they were a bunch of liberal nitwits (to borrow a phrase from Karen's husband).

We all shrieked in protest and said that she should raise the issues that she had with the class. Suddenly, Dad broke out into Shakespearean poetry.

"Stiffen the sinews! Summon up the blood! Disguise fair nature with hard-favour'd rage; Then lend the eye a terrible aspect."

Gretchen, in full agreement, chimed in with "Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel!"

Mama, not to be outdone, cried, "Listen my children and you shall hear!"

And I, saving the best for last, bleated, "Willie, Willie, Harry, Steve!"

I think Kimberly was very inspired, and found the courage to raise the issues after all. A day well spent. Poetry rocks.