Poetry Terms
Cento Poem An original poem made using lines from the works of various poets. Also known as patchwork poetry. To make a patchwork poem, each line must be taken from a different poem. When the lines are put together, they must make sense. The poem doesn’t have to rhyme, but rhyming adds a nice touch.
How to Write a Cento Read some poems: Take time to look through a few poems(selections on the next slide). Get started: Find a line you especially like, and make that the first line of your patchwork poem. Write the poet’s last name in parentheses at the end of the line. Add more lines: Select lines 2, 3, and 4 in the same way. Choose your lines carefully—your poem must make sense. You need to have 12 lines in your poem. You need to break your poem into stanzas. Take the challenge! Can you make your poem rhyme? It’s not necessary, but it can be a fun challenge. Tenses should agree. Person should agree. In other words, pick lines that have been written either all in first person or all in third person. Give credit: At the end, list each poet’s full name. Include the name of the poem in quotes.
Speak gently, Spring, and make no sudden sound, (Lew Sarett) I’d much rather sit there in the sun. (Krauss) The golden crocus reaches up, (Crane) And everywhere the great green smell, (Worth) A coat of clover cloaks the hills. (Prelutsky) The wind is passing through, (Rossetti) Stirs the dancing daffodil (Coleridge) Deep in their long-stemmed world. (Brown) Sources Lew Sarett, “Four Little Foxes” Ruth Krauss, “Song” Walter Crane, “The Crocus” Kathryn Worth, “Smells” Jack Prelutsky, “The Four Seasons” Christina Rossetti, “Who Has Seen the Wind?” Sara Coleridge, “The Months” Margaret Wise Brown, “Green Stems”
Poems to use to write your cento poem Selected Poems