[Mary Moore]

I note that back in 2000, there was an interesting discussion of the cento on Eratoshpere. There the talk was almost exclusively of making a poem composed of one line each from a number of different writers. I think an equally fun cento is the one where each line comes from different poems by the same poet. As Stephen Fry points out, "the result is a kind of enforced self-parody."

Here is mine. Want to try one of your own?


Emily, Walking*


I started early – Took my Dog –
And went against the World –
I had no Cause to be awake –
Creator – Was it you?

A Murmur in the Trees – to note –
And in the Handsome Skies
The Motions of the Dipping Birds –
A pleading Pageantry –

A chilly Peace infests the Grass
Of which it is the sign –
The things we thought that we should do
Make Life a sudden price.

This Me – that walks and works – must die,
The opening of a Door –
A darting fear – a pomp – a tear –
And the Surrender – Mine –

Mary E. Moore


*From #s 520,540,542,564,416,413,327,582,1443,1700,1293,161 0,1588,
1760,87,718.






[This message has been edited by Mary Moore (edited October 30, 2006).]

[RCL]

Mary,

Technically, it’s not a cento, but I did this one about a year ago, alluding (as I recall) to every one of her bird poems.


Birdsong

A robin’s her criterion for tune:
She sings of bobolink and blue,
Those feathered hopes that flee too soon—
Spins riddles on a blur

That’s evanescent—a rush of black
And cochineal above the buds
On brilliant days when birds come back
To serenade her. She applauds

When they intone a springtime hymn,
Their thanks for bread bestowed by God,
But she, the sparrow thrown a crumb,
Gives voice to all—their sovereign bard.


------------------
Ralph

[Jerry Glenn Hartwig]

I think an equally fun cento is the one where all of the lines come from different lines by the same poet

Aren't most poems composed of different lines by the same poet? *insincere look of innocence*

[Mary Moore]

Thanks, Jerry. Have edited to correct. M.