101 Poems, Number 89

Favorite Poems Throughout My Life

89: “The Cremation of Sam McGee,” 1907, by Robert W. Service (1874–1958)

Such strange things done … the midnight sun …

This poem always was such fun—

Though maybe not for those I taught

In 8^th grade English. “Fun? Oh not!”

I used in our Klondike weeks—

Jack London, Yukon mountain peaks.

We memorized it—first to last—

And many, many of them passed!

This poem still lives in my head—

I hope it does till I am … [you know].

It took some work to get it there—

I wrestled it—a grizzly bear.

But soon (with work) the bear succumbed—

My brain survived! No longer numbed!

So now I trot out “Sam McGee”

And offer no apology!

Link to poem.