Viral Video: This Toddler Knows More Poetry Than You

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A child’s mind is like a sponge. NewsFeed is glad to see young Ivan is putting his to good use.

This adorable 5-year-old Filipino kid has the self-confidence of a seasoned actor. Ivan recites Walt Whitman’s “O Captain! My Captain!” with stunning ease. Makes us wish we’d studied harder in school.

(More on TIME.com: Poetry Takes to Twitter for Exposure.)

According to the kid’s father, YouTube user bitulok3131, Ivan was able to memorize the poem in a mere three days. To refresh your memory (or introduce you to the poem for the first time), check out the text – there are some difficult words in there! But Ivan is hardly fazed by the poetic syntax and old-style language. This is one kid that’s going far in life!

A note to all parents: Take a page out of little Ivan’s book and have your child memorize poetry. Or else they’ll memorize every bad word mommy and daddy say. (via YouTube)