That was the day we ‘spoke pieces,’ but that I never did,
I stayed at school and was punished, or ran away and hid.
“But I honored the boys who did it, in particular the one who told
‘How well Horatius kept the bridge, in the brave days of old!’
I admired the high heroic style, I longed to do the same,
And watched the others with beating heart, and cheeks that were all aflame.
“I had an elder sister then, such an one, my boys, have you—
Good, and sweet, and pretty”—and then he smiled at Sue—
“She said I could learn a simple piece, learn it, and speak it well;
I didn’t want anything simple, I wanted a piece that would tell.