Secret of the Cento

[annaswirls]

I agree-- a fine job Miss Angeline!

It works as a poem.

I am stuck between snitching a bunch of lines from a few poets to playing the field.

I should stop whining and just write the damn thing.

I have two other survivor poems bleeding on the lawn next to Tzara's apparent mess.

Hmm. Can we use our alts?

hehe

I know NO.

I think this is a particularly fine exemplar of a cento. Just because everything fits so smoothly together. And makes sense.

Makes a pretty good poem, actually, which is the point.

I mean, I was going to try the Jackson Mac Low radical artiste approach, but that's now been evicerated and left quivering and bleeding on the lawn.

Red and green. Christmas colors.

Hell. I'd better read some poetry.

Bitch.

 

[annaswirls]

<<<~~~~ thumbing thru thread, looking for secrets...sorely disappointed...

will return

Girl! Are you doing Survivor?? Come on, please! It will get me re-inspired!

And I miss you.

I am so selfish, it is sad. Me me me.

how are YOU?????

It would be good for YOU to do survivor.

And for all of US.

see
I can move beyond me.



my toddler eyes

 

[Safe_Bet]

Twenty bucks? Can you wait til next friday?

Okay. Glue. Got it.

(still terrified)

No, no, no! You SNIFF the glue! Once you get a buzz you won't be terrified... EVRYTHING will be nice and groovie!

 

[annaswirls]

No, no, no! You SNIFF the glue! Once you get a buzz you won't be terrified... EVRYTHING will be nice and groovie!

hmmm. all I have are glue sticks. I don't think they are volatile enough.

 

[annaswirls]

Okay I think I did it. Thanks to clutching_calliope for the "I worry about us" motivation!

Even through the halogen 1
I worry about us, about 2
the six faces of time 3
being captured in this useless still life. 4

I worry about 2
the way she'll use Yeats, 5
as if someone is keeping track of it all. 6
I worry this will be the day replayed 7
when she remembers
inspiration waits on tables 8
at a truck stop.

I worry about 2 platinum protractors 9
spinning like gyroscopes on spider strings,
darting key and bracelet mountains, 4
pinned in on all sides by someone else’s expectations.

I worry about us, about long unisons, 10
rattling manhole covers
gutterways and mudseason dooryards.

I worry about us
and wish for the warmth of a hand. 11

There must be bits of truth 12
caught between these teeth of obscurity.
Miles and miles of kicking rocks, 13
thinking of what's left behind.
To-morrow I will number the dead. 14




1 Even Through The Halogen by Liar©
2 i worry by clutching_calliope©
3 six faces of time
by normal jean©
4 Pictures on a Bureau by jd4george©
5 Flour Fell in a Circle Around Her
by Epmd607©
6 Pictures on a Bureau by jd4george©
7 Wow and Flutter by Minervous©
8 Cobweb Blues by Bill Dada©
9 in memory of sp by denis hale©
10 Steam Pipe by eagleyez©
11 Red October by twelveoone©
12 Coffee Clouds at Dawn by Angeline©
13 Quasi-philosopher by neonurotic©
14 Desert Sunset by twelveoone©

 

[UnderYourSpell]

I hope we have all got the hang of it now because have you seen this months challenge?!!!

 

[LadynStFreknBed]

Pssst. Anna... over here...

Wanna know the secret to a good Cento? Got twenty bucks?

HEY! No reason to get rude!

Well, okay then, if you want to be THAT way about it, I'll tell ya...

Find a poet that you really admire and who has a variety of poems in their portfolio. Then read each of them and copy your favorite line from each poem and paste them into a word doc. If you are luck like I was (mostly by picking LadyS whose stuff ROCKS) certain lines will jump out at you and then you can "glue" them together with other lines that you copied. Easy peasy, girl! (don't know why the same thing wouldn't work with lines from a variety of poets, but I LOVE LadyS' work, so that made it even more special for me).

You flatter me, SB, for real. Thanks for the morning smile.

 

[Angeline]

Okay I think I did it. Thanks to clutching_calliope for the "I worry about us" motivation!

Even through the halogen 1
I worry about us, about 2
the six faces of time 3
being captured in this useless still life. 4

I worry about us, 2
the way she'll use Yeats, 5
as if someone is keeping track of it all. 6
I worry this will be the day replayed 7
when she remembers
inspiration waits on tables 8
at a truck stop.

I worry about us, about 2
platinum protractors 9
spinning like gyroscopes
on spider strings,
darting key and bracelet mountains, 4
pinned in on all sides by someone else’s expectations.

I worry about us, about long unisons, 10
rattling manhole covers
gutterways and mudseason dooryards.

I worry about us
and wish for the warmth of a hand. 11

There must be bits of truth 12
caught between these teeth of obscurity.
Miles and miles of kicking rocks, 13
thinking of what's left behind.
To-morrow I will number the dead. 14




1 Even Through The Halogen by Liar©
2 i worry by clutching_calliope©
3 six faces of time
by normal jean©
4 Pictures on a Bureau by jd4george©
5 Flour Fell in a Circle Around Her
by Epmd607©
6 Pictures on a Bureau by jd4george©
7 Wow and Flutter by Minervous©
8 Cobweb Blues by Bill Dada©
9 in memory of sp by denis hale©
10 Steam Pipe by eagleyez©
11 Red October by twelveoone©
12 Coffee Clouds at Dawn by Angeline©
13 Quasi-philosopher by neonurotic©
14 Desert Sunset by twelveoone©

It's excellent. I know we looked at some of the same poems too. I almost used that line from Bill Dada, but ended up with another poem from him. See? It all but writes itself once you get going!

 

[annaswirls]

It's excellent. I know we looked at some of the same poems too. I almost used that line from Bill Dada, but ended up with another poem from him. See? It all but writes itself once you get going!

Thanks for taking the time to read and respond, Ange.

I am doing smithpeter titles. I could not bring myself to take his lines, -- but titles felt different. I could write about 100 poems with them. They have it all, from single word titles like "on" to use as fillers and brilliant lines like "bachelor tree house"

Now I am sitting with a long long list of words and phrases, nervous to make the first stitch.

Like an amateur seamstress with the finest silk, wondering who gave her permission to tamper with such material...

 

[Remec]

I confess. I am intimidated by the Cento.

Here are some questions for you, please:
How long did it take you to sift through the poems to find just the right line?
Did you have a theme in mind and then find lines to write it?
Did you let the lines you like decide the direction?

Please post your Cento Challenges and Secrets here. Tell a Cento Story.
How did you start?
Did you have a lot of lines and mixed them up into a sensible poem?
Do tell, do tell.

I am partly afraid of fracking up someone's poem.
Did you go to poems you remember liking?
Did you search poets you enjoy or seem to share your voice?
What worked?
What didn't work?
Will there be a quiz?

I hope not. I haven't studied for trying to finish an overdue Chain Story around dealing with kids and work and household this and that...anyways *g*

I think I just looked at the Challenge, found the first seven poets who were about, went to their submissions pages, and considered what I wanted to do.

Ended up with a theme of taking their oldest posted work, and trying to develop something dealing with a first time. (First Trio) I may have to have a more focussed concept in mind next time, though. *g*

(Oh, and I was/am intimidated by the form too.)

 

[annaswirls]

I hope not. I haven't studied for trying to finish an overdue Chain Story around dealing with kids and work and household this and that...anyways *g*

I think I just looked at the Challenge, found the first seven poets who were about, went to their submissions pages, and considered what I wanted to do.

Ended up with a theme of taking their oldest posted work, and trying to develop something dealing with a first time. (First Trio) I may have to have a more focussed concept in mind next time, though. *g*

(Oh, and I was/am intimidated by the form too.)

Wow Remec, that is really a lovely poem! It flows very naturally and seems plenty focused to me! I am glad we no longer fear the Cento.

Don't Fear the Cento. Baby take my hand.