Poetry plays quite a role in education in the early years at school in France. My kids often come home with a poem they are required to learn by heart for homework (les devoirs). It helps to build memory and concentration as well as verbal skills. And of course they are learning some French writing and the power of words and story telling.
In French class we read this poem (pour conjugaison). Poignant.
Dejeuner du matin – Jacques Prevért
Il a mis le café
Dans la tasse
Il a mis le lait
Dans la tasse de café
Il a mis le sucre
Avec la petite cuiller
Il a tourné
Il a bu le café au lait
Et il a reposé la tasse
Sans me parler
Il a allumé
Une cigarette
Il a fait des ronds
Avec la fumée
Il a mis les cendres
Dans le cendrier
Sans me parler
Sans me regarder
Il s’est levé
Il a mis
Son chapeau sur sa tête
Il a mis
Son manteau de pluie
Parce qu’il pleuvait
Et il est parti
Sous la pluie
Sans une parole
Sans me regarder
Et moi j’ai pris
Ma tête dans ma main
Et j’ai pleuré
Megan In Sainte Maxime 
I would love to see how this comes out on Google Translate
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I wonder if it will mutilate it?!
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Love that the boys memorize poems. Gerard Manly Hopkins/WB Yeats/ Dickinson painted pictures for me that have resonated down the years.
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Isn’t it grand for the boy and it’s nice to know that the boys will have some appreciation. Maybe your poetry knowledge could be passed down?
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You can always introduce them to the art of the limerick! (More fun than the haiku).
I know of 2 boys in France
Who declare,’ We do love to dance’
They sway and they swing
And jump round in a ring
But I think they have arnts in their parnts
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Love the limerick. It reminds me of Dr Suess’s “If I Ran The Circus”.
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