3-year-old recites poem, "Litany" by Billy Collins

This is my 3-year-old son. He loves poetry and he loves to memorize. Here he is reciting a poem called "Litany" by Billy Collins.
Here is the text:

"You are the bread and the knife,
the crystal goblet and the wine.
You are the dew on the morning grass
and the burning wheel of the sun.
You are the white apron of the baker,
and the marsh birds suddenly in flight.

However, you are not the wind in the orchard,
the plums on the counter,
or the house of cards.
And you are certainly not the pine-scented air.
There is just no way that you are the pine-scented air.

It is possible that you are the fish under the bridge,
maybe even the pigeon on the general's head,
but you are not even close
to being the field of cornflowers at dusk.

And a quick look in the mirror will show
that you are neither the boots in the corner
nor the boat asleep in its boathouse.

It might interest you to know,
speaking of the plentiful imagery of the world,
that I am the sound of rain on the roof.

I also happen to be the shooting star,
the evening paper blowing down an alley
and the basket of chestnuts on the kitchen table.

I am also the moon in the trees
and the blind woman's tea cup.
But don't worry, I'm not the bread and the knife.
You are still the bread and the knife.
You will always be the bread and the knife,
not to mention the crystal goblet and--somehow--the wine."

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[D Chelpka]

He is now almost 6 and over the years I have seen him grow in his understanding of this poem and many others he has learned. I have seen clear evidence that even many adults don't understand this poem, but does that mean we shouldn't let them hear it or learn it? Should we not use it as a tool for further understanding of the world around us? One does not need to fully understand a poem in order to enjoy and learn from it.

[MissyUCF99]

I am an English teacher, and often show this clip to promote the idea that poetry is itself in a way a child. It is created by the parent poet, yet can grow and have a life and meaning of its own. The young boy's beautiful and innocent recitation of this poem changes its message and its beauty-- it becomes something else, something innate and magical and also different from its original intention. So too do children change and grow and evolve and become something else-- but no less transcendent.

[CrowBride]

Agreed entirely. And learning and reciting poetry like this increases his verbal acuity. Understanding and appreciation grows as he does.

[fgre3456]

Wonderful just wonderful. Mommy, you are the best!

[randoomstudioz]

Aww he gets so distracted

[Bill Brasset]

Delightful!

[apianolady2003]

In a word, "Wow!"

[Ryen Teo]

It's not very often you see 3 years olds that have this amount of passion for poetry. Hopefully he never gives it up!

[Gene Bivins]

If he understands one line he's ahead of some adults.

[olivermax1000]

I hope you don't mind but I used the audio from this video and put it into a song. It isn't for commercial gain, I was simply inspired and making music is a hobby of mine. If you'd like the link, send me a message on here or visit soundcloud . com and search "limpitmusic".

[rosiecider100]

Better delivery than Billy.Well done.Great poem.Wish i had been introduced to poetry at such a young age.Poetry is for recieting!Take heed boffinns.

[mratkinson2007]

It is my understanding that those who deeply feel will gather meaning from everything around them and use it to help create a better understanding of the world. This ability is lost among our children in the present moment and we need children like him to help bring the others back around. There is more than just material gain in experience.