John Trantner lives in Sydney and is another well known Australian poet.This cento is based on his 10th volume At the Florida containing 54 poems.
RWP Mini Challenge#2..Poets We Love
Blue Moon
Under the holiday moon she looks like a pudgy pup
the highlights on her hair overtaken by shadow
And yet the boys still dive among the foam
talking with kisses as the cranky old poet
chattered under the yellow moon half
listening to the soft punctuation of plums
dropping onto the lawn
I'm nursing a drink at twilight
sherry bottles clink a dull marimba
A blue moon lights up the rorsach test
that seems to be a plot of my muddled life
emerging through the middle class
Did you want peace and quiet
or did you want hot thrills and kissing
If you look behind you on the ground
there's a mirror pond-make a wish
It seems so long ago
that we crossed the moonlit lawn
softly without saying goodbye
and here we are still looking for words
This is great, Rall! As you don't give us specific details, I'm beginning to wonder if these aren't simply whole poems you're copying out!! Looks like you're following a blue phase.
ReplyDeleteOh! Forgot to mention how cool you look in the header!
ReplyDeletePlagiarism is not my bag but thanks for the back handed compliment anyway.Blue Moon is based on four or five poems.Get a copy of
ReplyDelete'At the Florida' and after a day you might
work out where all the lines come from.I scan
very quickly so I don't actually know how many poems I have used.
oooh, i think i'd love to read more of this poet!!! another great narrative structure coming through in this one!
ReplyDeleteIt reads so whole.-Irene
ReplyDelete'Blue Moon' uses lines from the following poems
ReplyDeleteof John Trantner
Decalcomania pg 28
North Woods pg 54
Dark Harvest pg 35
Oblivion pg 69
Cubans pg 68
Curriculum vitae pg 57
The Narcolept pg 71
Thanks Irene.Yes it is my forte weaving things together to make it a whole.Being a collage
ReplyDeletevisual artist and an embroiderer is an advantage.
Wow, you clearly took time with these centos because they blend together so well.
ReplyDeleteAnd the blue theme is great in your titles...that gives me an idea.
Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks Evelyn.This one did take some time but
ReplyDeleteI scan very quickly..I think they call it speed reading these days.Glad you like the blue theme.
I really enjoyed this and I am not so sure why anybody would challenge somebody's integrity this is supposed to be a friendly prompt.
ReplyDeletePamela
Thankyou for your supportive comment Pamela
ReplyDeleteAnyone who is not an academic may not realise the gravity of an accusation of plagiarism.Put it down to ignorance or at least bad manners.
Hi Rall,
ReplyDeleteAs I'm in Egypt enjoying warmth and sunshine at the moment, I shall overlook Pamela's comment and your reply. I hadn't realised there was a nerve so close to the funny bone!
Nicely done, especially the last four lines. You've created a clear narrative here from him lines. I agree with Derrick -- this seems so well-crafted that it doesn't even look like a cento.
ReplyDelete-Nicole