My fifth grade teacher made me memorize this poem. It was an assignment for which we got a grade. I’m not quite sure how we were graded, whether it was our performance, number of words correct to words incorrect, or if we bothered to do it at all. But I see now why that poem was so important to memorize. It’s been a recurring theme for me all my adult life. I wish that I could go back to my teacher and tell her how significant it was for me in reflection after unfruitful relating and in appreciation for the best of what’s out there.