Category: Cento

Poetry, My Poetry, Cento, Na/GloPoWriMo 20261 Comment

Lost Purpose Dancing Backwards

Charlotte Hamrick

Lost Purpose Dancing BackwardsNeeded: amends for an old ghost, some form of recompense.Red light travels the most milesthrough the atmosphere & bitterto no end, we become the red tapewe rue. If we name this in our headsWill it go away? I’m dancing this ghostpen between you and me; I’ll writeyou into a place as your face foldsinto your crane neck. I will returnat night and stare into your eyes.(Your warm spot is not yours; this I know.You live by the fact of the sun; this I know.)Credits:“Local Legends” by Kare Head in Lost on Purpose“There are No Warning Signs” by … Continue reading Lost Purpose Dancing Backwards

Cento, My Poetry, Publications 20252 Comments

A Surprise!

Charlotte Hamrick

I woke up the other day to a SM post from Revolution John magazine that I’d been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. Surprise is putting it mildly. It’s always wonderful to be nominated for literary recognition and I want to thank the Editors for believing in my work. The piece nominated is a Cento so I want to thank the poets whose lines I borrowed to create “You lied to me.” You can read the poem here. Continue reading A Surprise!

Cento, My Poetry, Something Small Every DayLeave a comment

Something Small, Every Day (or so): Disruption on Parade

Charlotte Hamrick

Disruption on ParadeNo matter its name, no matter yoursNo rules apply hereIf your eyes grew wider would you capture light thin the fearFresh from mediocrity my fingers struggle and still I persistswallow wholeBreathTonePulseA simple concept in this pre-packagedworldeach separate but … Continue reading Something Small, Every Day (or so): Disruption on Parade

2025, Cento, My Poetry, Poetry, Something Small Every Day8 Comments

Something Small, Every Day (or so): Exhale Slowly

Charlotte Hamrick

Exhale SlowlyAfter the foot departs in theirSearch for meaning andA good woman done wrong,The earth moves and five minutesAgo rain tapped out. Today’s lessonIs humility. Up to down, right to left,I follow. What is the color Of love or a shadow’s weight?Above the sky or below the waves,Some days pain drags behind meNo matter what. Exhale slowly that longTunnel ribbed in silence. In keeping with my intent to create something small every day and to resurrect my poetry practice, I plan to publish on this site one of my poems every few days. I won’t do it every day because … Continue reading Something Small, Every Day (or so): Exhale Slowly

Cento, My Poetry, NaPoWriMo 20213 Comments

NaPoWriMo Day 19

Charlotte Hamrick

Cemetery Garden: A Cento In every room of my home, the candles had been pinched dark,(1) my mind spends much of its time reliving finished conversations. (2) I think perhaps an apple is the universe and your body is an orchard full of trees, (3) the bitter taste of half a life. What if you weren’t afraid? (4) Which shadow glittered, which shadow dimmed? I learned not to regret. (5) You strangle on the sweet air, leave little ghosts of scent behind you. You will lean to the earth alone. (6) ***** Sources: (Numbered after the line quoted) (1) Mary … Continue reading NaPoWriMo Day 19

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Cento: When I Go

Charlotte Hamrick

Think of me as grass stain, skinned knee, sliver of new moon, unseen tremors or the chill rasp of sparked surprise, rose petals and blood in the palm of your hand, teardrops coated in phosphorus. Say hosanna. Let it mean Save Me. ~~~ Credits: Milo Gallagher, Robert Okaji, Christina Clark, Christine Beck, Clare Martin, Erren Kelly. So this is my first attempt at the Cento, defined as “a poetic form made up of lines from poems by other poets” on Poets.org. Essentially, I perused the “poetry I like” tag on my Pocket account and pulled lines that spoke to me. … Continue reading Cento: When I Go