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Hello Poets,
Recently, someone asked how they display their new year post cards. I haven't really displayed them, although the accordion booklet is quite appealing.
For the past few years I've used lines from New Year poems to create centos.
In 2025, I have a lot of lines--over 100! I could make centos for weeks--and I just might.
Usually, I label lines with the poet's names to arrange a cento. I try to make sure I include at least one line from each poet. This year, I left the poet names off the lines and arranged lines and then looked for who wrote them. The first cento that emerged has 14 lines. I'm calling it a cento sonnet.
Cento Sonnet
Tell me about rising and shining
Today I wear my full sunshine
in a winter's shadowed silence
woody, gray, cloudy
Tell me about moving and making
reminding longdays lie ahead
I make list in the sand, throw a rock into the sea
Tell me about purple silks and silver stars
awakening the hunkered heron
silhouetting against the sky
Tell me about 2025
You were made for flying
Tell me that you made it
Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes
arranged by Linda Mitchell
Lines by
Gail Aldous
Denise Krebs
Carol Varsalona
Gail Aldous
Mona Voelkel
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Jone MacCulloch
Mona Voelkel
Marcie Flinchum Atkins
Carol Varsalona
Mona Voelkel
Molly Hogan
Mona Voelkel
Denise Krebs
Thank you Laura Purdie Salas for hosting our round-up of poetry this weekend.
I love this, Linda. The poem, and the process. (You are always so industriously creative!) Thank-you for sharing. You were indeed made for flying!
ReplyDeleteWowza! What a cool exercise! I love this!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are a wizard, Linda. Thanks for sharing this and letting us enjoy your art and re-enjoy bits of poems you've shared. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful cento. Like how it ends on an optimistic note! Fun seeing your process too. :)
ReplyDeleteYour wonderful 'gathering' into a cento makes me smile, Linda! Knowing so many bring love to our world is a needed thing today! Thanks for sharing how to did it, too!
ReplyDeleteYour processs shines through here, Linda. I love those revelations. The resulting Cento provides stunning evidence of your considered actions with regard to line arrangement. Thank you for this informative post and the spark that ignited your creative efforts as a poet.
ReplyDeleteYour cento is delightful! There are so many beautiful lines. I love seeing your process. You are so creative!
ReplyDeleteLinda, A cento is always a beautiful way to bring other poets together. Thank you for adding my lines that resonated with you.
ReplyDeleteI love your cento! It's so cool how you recombined lines to generate even more creativity from the postcard exchange. I don't think I've ever written a cento, but you have me intrigued.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant and beautiful, Linda!
ReplyDeleteThose last two lines are just perfection. <3
ReplyDeleteWhat a glorious ending!
ReplyDeleteThis is gorgeous and hopeful, Linda. Like a poets' secret club that they don't know they belong to! Now I want to print and cut up a lot of my favorite poems and try this. And try it with students too. I have written (?) a couple centos before but not like this. This is so cool. Thank you for the inspiration! X
ReplyDelete