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Cento Poetry Challenge

Launch gallery slideshow

Swap Coordinator:beckra (contact)
Swap categories: Challenges  Letters & Writing 
Number of people in swap:23
Location:Other
Type:None
Last day to signup/drop:June 30, 2007
Date items must be sent by:August 6, 2007
Number of swap partners:2
Description:

A cento is a poem composed entirely of lines taken from already published poems by different authors. The word "cento" means "stitched," and you can think of a cento as a verbal quilt made up of fabric (=lines) from different sources, sewn together. For a longer description of the cento and two lovely examples, see http://thewordshop.tripod.com/cento.html

Let's try our hand at this poetic form that is part verbal collage and part homage!

Each participant will create a cento of at least 8 lines and will send it to 2 partners. Don't use an author more than once, alter nothing in the original lines except punctuation and capitalization, and make sure you include a key to your cento in which you list the authors, poems, and publications from which your lines are taken. Also include English translations in your key if some (or all) of your cento is in a language other than English.

How you present your cento is up to you: typed and printed, hand-written, composed out of letters clipped from magazines, or whatever feels right to you!

Fine print: 1) Newbies with completed profiles are welcome. 2) People with a rating below 4.7 will be dropped. 3) This is an international swap.

Discussion

lulu 06/ 9/2007 #

Have never tried this before - but I am willing to give it a go. It sounds fun. (I am a newbie)

beckra 06/ 9/2007 #

Dear Lulu--I'm glad you're game! The cento is new to me, too, but I figured that it would be fun to have company when giving it a try so I set up the swap!

beckra 06/11/2007 #

Hello, all--I just changed the send deadline for the swap (making it a week later than originally planned). One of the participants asked for the leeway, and I thought it would be fine. Of course, you're always welcome to send earlier if that's better for you! In general I made a longer-than-usual sign-up period and a longer-than-usual time to the send-deadline since I know many people are on holiday/out of town during these months & I thought that maximum flexibility date-wise would ensure that everyone who wanted to participate could. I hope the date-range will encourage(rather than discourage) folks from the swap! Of course, let me know if you have any questions.

boatbird 06/14/2007 #

Do the cento's have to have a theme? I have started playing around with poetry already!

beckra 06/15/2007 #

Dear BoatBird--No set theme; go where the spirit takes you!

Moominbrooke 06/18/2007 #

I'd never heard of this form. I am intrigued.

blissfulmama 06/25/2007 #

getting excited

tee hee!

beckra 07/ 1/2007 #

hello again, everyone. someone asked me if song lyrics could be used, and i say, "yes," let's count lyrics as poetry!

tamipal6 07/ 1/2007 #

Wow! This was a BLAST! I spent all night doing mine and LOVED it! Thanks for hosting this, beckra! I'd never even heard of a "cento" poem before. Major fun! Mine are ready to post tomorrow. :)

beckra 07/ 9/2007 #

I hope everyone's having fun! Mine are ready to mail out tomorrow--so Lulu and MadMadam, be on the look-out....

boatbird 07/12/2007 #

Mine's been posted :) tamipal and Pretty Little Failure keep your eyes on the post in the next week or so (they're coming from Cyprus!)

AngelFaeryKathleen 07/14/2007 #

Hi twobluecrows and Knitting Cateling, yours are winging their way to you from New Zealand today so keep and eye out in 7 to 10 days. This was just so much fun when I got started I chould not stop so you are getting more than one. This was a now form to me and I love it I hope you like them :-)))

Beckra can we do this agin please :-)))))

boatbird 07/15/2007 #

OOOh yes a second round please :)

beckra 07/15/2007 #

I'm so glad that people seem to be enjoying this!! I had a great time, too, and am eager to try it again, so I think I'll set up another cento swap once this one is over. Stay tuned!

AngelFaeryKathleen 07/15/2007 #

Thank you Beckra I will "stay tuned" :-D

twobluecrows 07/17/2007 #

Angel Faery Kathleen, thanks for the heads-up--I mailed mine out early and I'm eager to see these, and I keep forgetting the mailing date was so far away in August, so I check here every now and then to see why it's taking so long, and go "doh!Not till August"! I'm glad to know something is coming! Cyn :)

AngelFaeryKathleen 07/17/2007 #

Hi Twobluecrows, I was the same, I had mine all roughed out within a few days of signing up and then I just did more and more! I cannot wait to see how others handled their's :-)))

symphonie 07/18/2007 #

Sent mine today (thursday 19th July) from Melbourne Australia. to beckra and Lulu.

AngelFaeryKathleen 07/23/2007 #

My first one arrived yesterday, Monday from Pickle. Many thanks it is great :-)))

AngelFaeryKathleen 08/10/2007 #

I have both of mine and am looking faward to doing more :-))

Thank you RobertaJ it is great and for the wee book mark as it will be most usefull as I use lots in my poety books to mark my favs, Hugs :-))

symphonie 08/16/2007 #

WOW my first flaker! yay! :) So it looks like Im not getting my 2nd poem. Its a shame, I LOVE poetry and was really enthused by this swap. Overall, Im very sad to say, I am very disappointed. Would any of you consider sending me one of your cento poems? I would be very grateful. Thanks luvs :)

beckra 08/18/2007 #

I'll get one in the mail to you, Symphonie, asap!

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