This week I have been closely examining Cento poems. A Cento poem is composed of various lines lifted from different poems. They are sometimes referred to as Patchwork or Collage poems. They are yet another form of found poetry. The idea is to gather appealing lines from poems to create a pool of content from which to choose the most suitable lines for your new poem. You are aiming for lines that might lend themselves to meshing together to create a cohesive work. The poet becomes a weaver- a weaver of words. You begin by choosing one or two lines per poem. Once you have your pool of lines you may commence to reconstruct, reconfigure and remix the word order of your chosen lines. You may also make them rhyme if you so choose. It is important to be consistent with your use of tenses and voice.  As a poetry form, Cento poems are quite old. They stretch back to the ancient Greek poet, Homer and the Roman poet, Virgil. Many famous poets have written Cento poems. Two examples of conte...

 It surprises me to think it has taken me so long to share this poem with you, as it stands as an enduring favourite of mine. I first heard it read during my university years and the words attached themselves strongly to my heart. It's like that with poetry.  The poem titled, 'The Host of The Air ' is by William Butler Yeats, a famed Irish poet. It seems most fitting to be finally sharing it with a wider audience on March 17th, St Patrick's Day. On one of my trips to Ireland, I made the pilgrimage to Yeats' burial site in Drumcliffe Parish Church cemetery in County Sligo  to pay homage.  The site has become both a shrine and a tourist attraction . I have also been privileged to view his notebooks in the Irish Writer's Museum in Dublin on two occasions.  The Host Of The Air O'Driscoll drove with a song The wild duck and the drake From the tall and the tufted reeds Of the drear Hart Lake. And he saw how the reeds grew dark At the coming of night-tide, And dre...