With your bitter, twisted lies
gathered around, you took my mouth,
weakened by my soulful cries,
and plunged it into your heart.
I am going to have it, you said.
Don't you take it awful hard
but you were always ambitious.
Did you want to see me broken?
Did my sexiness upset you?
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
that never ends.
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise,
cursing holy blood at the table,
I rise,
whether or not you will make me immortal,
I rise.
You may write me down in history.
gathered around, you took my mouth,
weakened by my soulful cries,
and plunged it into your heart.
I am going to have it, you said.
Don't you take it awful hard
but you were always ambitious.
Did you want to see me broken?
Did my sexiness upset you?
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
that never ends.
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise,
cursing holy blood at the table,
I rise,
whether or not you will make me immortal,
I rise.
You may write me down in history.
This poem does not contain any of my own words. It is a cento, patched together from these poems
Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
They Eat Out By Margaret Atwood
To Restore a Dead Child by Keith Douglas
As Children Together by Carolyn Forche
With special thanks to jillypoet, paisley, mariacristina and the patchwork poetry prompt site.
9 comments:
I found it was very moving to read this post even if you did not write the words - you made the arrangement.
Carolyn Forche was one of my professors at George Mason. I recognized her writing --- I am amazed at your writing though...such feeling and depth. Thank you for sharing.
Wow! You did a great job choosing lines that not only flow together, they tell a story of a relationship, and a narrator's hurt, passionate feelings.
I enjoyed very much the poem you chose by Maya Angelou. I read it again and again.
excellent.. i would say this fits like a glove... very smooth delivery i really enjoy doing this a few times a month... it is a great exercise....
Your patchwork truly shines!
mindplay
Works beautifully... such a song of defiance. I like the last three lines - particularly the way the last one stands alone and quietly strong.
And thanks for contributing the Maya Angelou poem - it's a great piece and I think we've all drawn a lot on its vibrant energy...
Love the opening and final stanzas in your Cento. I can picture the rising. Have a nice day.
Beautiful post!
Patchwork poetry ... will have to check that out, thank you!
And thank you for reminding me about the wonderful Maya. I haven't read any of her work since I read 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' when I did my BA dissertation, but will indulge myself next time I go to the library.
:o)
wow, i must try this form
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