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Hello Poets!
Do you know that one of my more fascinating traits is getting stuck in serious mode? Oooof! It's truly an old schoolmarm demeanor that takes over my whole self. People I adore have tried to jolly me out of it my whole life (for some reason that makes it worse). It's not until I realize that I'm stuck that I can start to work out of too-serious-mode.
One of the best things about poetry, for me, is play! I love to take two or more poems and mash them together in interesting combinations. This form of poetry is called cento.
Here are some playful mash-ups from my December journal...
The Owl and Pussycat at Christmas
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day
The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
in a beautiful pea-green boat,
I saw three ships come sailing in
On Christmas Day in the morning
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
wrapped up in a five-pound note.
And what was in those ships all three
On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day?
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
and sang to a small guitar,
I saw three ships come sailing in On Christmas Day in the morning
I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Just once I knew what life was for.
In Boston, quite suddenly, I understood:
Even more than I usually do
Walked there along the Charles River,
watched the lights copying themselves,
all neoned and strobe-hearted, opening
their mouths as wide as opera singers;
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you
counted the stars, my little campaigners,
My scar daisies, and knew that I walked my love
On the night green side of it and cried
my heart to the eastbound cars and cried
my heart to the westbound cars and took
I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
my truth across a small humped bridge
and hurried my truth, the charm of it, home
Please have snow and mistletoe
And presents under the tree
and hoarded these constants into morning
Christmas Eve will find me
Where the love light gleams
only to find them gone.
I'll be home for Christmas
If only in my dreams.
I'll be Home for Christmas Source: Musixmatch
Anne Sexton's Just Once source: https://allpoetry.com/Just-Once
I hope you are finding some fun in this holiday season...joy can be infectious!
Add your poetry links to your comments below and have fun reading some poetry over the weekend.
Thanks for being patient during my jolly holly activities -- delaying my round-up hostess duties! There are a big bunch of poems to savor from this week's offerings. Enjoy!
Mary Lee has written a gorgeous golden shovel that puts her in great conversation with Miss Dickinson
Jama entices with a question that MUST be answered with NO!
Alan offers two delightful poems packed with pretty words and their origins
Michelle has popped in from her busy teaching schedule with a delightful squirrel poem
Jane is still a mystery to me as I can't get her link to work yet. Jane, can you repost your link? please
Tabatha considers altruism and bravery. She invites new poems from us all for a new collection
Jan is my hero for gratitude and playful poetry--those lub-a-dubs!
Margaret somehow makes poem making look effortless as she composes on the fly
Cat tried to be anonymous...but she's now too famous! Short poem from her :)
Marci brings us memories of legendary Nikki Giovanni...missing that lady already!
Jone is also remembering Giovanni and inviting us all to a Postcard Swap (do it!)
Tricia is having fun with this year's poetry swap :)
Matt is keeping up his publishing pace with the last anthology news of 2024. Go, Matt, Go!
Linda B. is recommending a lovely book that led her to poeming about the moon and stories
Rose is inspired by Write Bites
Heidi is also remembering beloved Nikki Giovanni...let's swing on rainbows with her
Irene is sharing snow pie!
Amy has snow! Yippee!
Carol V. takes a lesson from Kenn Nesbitt's poetry for a wonderful Santa poem
Molly asks a wonderful, wistful question...'What Shall I Pack in the Box Marked Winter?'
Your mash-ups are such FUN! I had fun this week, too, writing a golden shovel-ish poem after Emily Dickinson's I dwell in Possibility --
ReplyDeletehttps://ayearofreading.org/2024/12/12/poetry-friday-after-e-d/
Thanks for hosting us!
Love your centos! Perfect for some holiday merriment. :) This week I'm sharing Alice Persons's "No More Nature Poems."
ReplyDeletehttps://jamarattigan.com/2024/12/13/no-more-nature-poems/
Thanks for hosting this week!!
Playing with words is both joyful and creative, Linda, so I fully concur with your approach. Tis the season to be jolly... Cento Celebrations!
ReplyDeleteThis week I am immersing myself in the summer season currently unfolding in Australia. Celebrating the season with a couple of summer offerings!
https://alanjwrightpoetrypizzazz.blogspot.com/2024/12/summer-season-poetry.html
What a lovely post Linda!!! I've so missed stopping in here, and always enjoy finding what wonder in words and art you are up to and sharing. Love these fun mash-up poems, thanks for them and for hosting this week! I have a kind of, Coming back for a spell post, with a critter poem and some more: https://moreart4all.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/poetry-friday-coming-back-for-a-spell/
ReplyDeleteI think we can all use a bit of fun these days, and a reminder to find the joy in words and in art. :) Here's my link - I'm sharing one of my favourite Christmas hymns. https://www.raincitylibrarian.ca/?p=24502
ReplyDeleteLinda! I remember you as playing with our group at Highlights let's record that. Not remembering meeting a schoolmarm type of gal.
ReplyDeleteThe cento is a poem form & term I've heard of & but didn't understood until these two delights. Appreciations for sharing the fun adventure you had with words.
At my Bookseedstudio site,
https://bookseedstudio.wordpress.coma few images I snapped &
words to go with them, plus words, some more, is in store.
Applause to busy Teaching Librarian You, for creatively hosting us this time!
Thanks for the entertaining mash-ups, Linda, and for hosting us! I have a call for submissions on The Opposite of Indifference and a poem by John Paul Davis: https://tabathayeatts.blogspot.com/2024/12/a-second-heartbeat.html
ReplyDeleteThese are fun. I love when I can play with poems in such a way. A few weeks ago I did an activity with my students from Ethical ELA's 90 Ways that had to do with friendship and songs. I need to look back in my notebook and at my students' work. I have no idea yet what I am posting for PF. I'm taking a break from baking cupcakes and wrapping gifts. Always so much to do.
ReplyDeleteMy link: https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2024/12/13/poetry-friday-count-on-me/
DeleteThese centos really make you dwell on the words - both of your poems and those that inspired them. Great for students, methinks! Also, playful for sure defines your poetry personality.🙃
ReplyDeleteOops. I'm anonymous. And you'll find me with the shortest of poems here; https://katswhiskers.wordpress.com/2024/12/12/missed-err-lister
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting us! x
I love your playful poems! What fun! Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about Nikki Giovanni this week: https://www.marcieatkins.com/2024/12/12/poetry-friday-remembering-nikki-giovanni/
Linda, thank you for the invitation to play. I, too, have a couple Nikki Giovanni poems for sharing and invitations to send New Year Poetry Postcards and an invitation to writing together in community on January 18.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.jonerushmacculloch.com/blog/poetry-friday-winter-poem-by-nikkigiovanni
I love this mash-up! I have been wondering what I'll carve tomorrow for the daily December challenge, but now your poem has inspired me!
ReplyDeleteI'm sharing your lovely poetry swap and a favorite by Ted Kooser.
A link would be helpful!
Deletehttps://missrumphiuseffect.blogspot.com/2024/12/poetry-friday-holiday-poetry-swap-and.html
I can see how mashing up poems like this can be fun - and very creative! Thanks for sharing. Today I'm sharing news about the last anthology I'll be participating in this year: https://wp.me/p2DEY3-3Ul
ReplyDeleteDear 'serious' Linda, I like that you've become 'un-serious' for us. What a laugh and joy those mash-ups (centos) are. The Owl and The Pussycat has been a favorite in our family for a long time! Thanks for hosting! I'm sharing another of my favorite things, a special book and poem about the moon! https://www.teacherdance.org/2024/12/poetry-friday-keeping-on.html
ReplyDeleteLove those centos, Linda. The one where you played with Just Once was especially beautiful. I could picture it all. Today I'm recapping a recent writing experience with two favorite poets. https://imaginethepossibilities.blog/2024/12/13/poetry-friday-write-bites/
ReplyDeleteDear Schoolmarm,
ReplyDeleteYes, yes! We all need to PLAY. Mother May I? I'm celebrating my own personal Nikki Giovanni Day. Thanks for hosting us at this busy time of year!
https://myjuicylittleuniverse.blogspot.com/2024/12/tiny-stitches-enormous-quilt.html
Linda, I love your playful poetic spirit! Thank you! I've got a Snow Day poem to share. https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2024/12/snow-day-poem.html
ReplyDeleteOh, these are delightful! I love thinking about the Owl and the Pussycat on those three ships. That is an image I will never lose, and I am going to try this. It reminds me of Barry Lane's "lullaby weave" which I think you would also like. If you Google it, you will find more, but it is essentially weaving a personal narrative of your own with the lines of another's poem. Thank you for hosting. I, too, need a reminder to play, especially these past few years. xo
ReplyDeleteToday at The Poem Farm, I am finally back with a list poem about snow. We have a lot here in Western New York right now!
https://poemfarm.amylv.com/2024/12/list-what-you-love.html
Linda, I know what you mean about getting in serious mode. Something for me to reflect upon!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun mashups! The first one is so fun and light, and the second is like a conversation between the two poems. So interesting! I apologize that I didn’t get a post done in time for this week, but I wanted to drop in and say: Happy Hosting and Happy Holidays! 😊
Hi Tracy! mwah
DeleteI love this! Thank you so much for sharing, and happy Poetry Friday!
ReplyDeleteBack atcha, kid!
DeleteLinda, playing with poetry seems to give you joy. Your poems were pure fun. Thanks for offering the word play. The word and your post gave me the inspiration to play with poetry today so I turned to Kenn Nesbitt's poem that I used as a mentor text. I had fun! See https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/12/cookies-with-santa.html.
ReplyDeleteLinda, playing with poetry seems to give you joy. Your poems were pure fun. Thanks for offering the word play. The word and your post gave me the inspiration to play with poetry today so I turned to Kenn Nesbitt's poem that I used as a mentor text. I had fun! See https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2024/12/cookies-with-santa.html.
ReplyDeleteI'm late, but I made it! Love your mash-ups and your celebration of play! Thanks for hosting this week. https://nixthecomfortzone.com/2024/12/13/what-shall-i-pack-in-the-box-marked-winter/
ReplyDelete