Recitation Planning

Loveliest of Trees       —                                                      A.E. Housman

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.
Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.
And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow.


I chose the poem "The Loveliest of Trees" by A.E. Housman to recite. 
I love the idea behind this poem. Ever since I turned 18 I sort of hit a realization that life was flying by, that I was now, at least legally, an adult. I try to be reminded each day that life and time are precious and I need to make the most of it, and never waste a heartbeat. I learned that Housman's mother died when he was at the young age of 12. This could have also been an inspiration for his poem showing him how quickly life passes. 

Techniques for memorization that I will use is separation of stanzas so that I memorize small bits and then later compile them into the complete poem. I will also try adding one line at a time while reciting so that I remember both the previous lines and the new line. 
To perform this I plan on having a gentle ( yet still clearly audible) tone and perhaps including a prop of a miniature cherry tree so that I have it to direct my attention towards while speaking about the cherry tree. I'm both excited and a bit nervous because I tend to get a little uncomfortable when the spotlight is on me. I will simply practice a lot and in front of my roommate in order to become more comfortable speaking publicly.