Poetry Month MashUp: Day Three

     For her A to Z Poetry Month post today, Rena Traxel offered up the word Contest.  So, I was going to write a poem about contests.  After all, I've won a bunch of them - all the purely lucky - pull your name out of a hat type.  Actually, I think the way I bend my entry forms might have helped me - but still, it's just dumb luck!  

     But, farther into her post, she challenged us to write a Cento - or Patchwork Poem - and I love a good challenge!  I had never heard of a Patchwork Poem so I was eager to try it.  It's pretty simple -  according to Poets.org, it's "a poetic form made up of lines from poems by other poets.  Though poets often borrow lines from other writers and mix them with their own, a true cento is composed entirely of lines from other sources." 

     I had no idea where to start so I googled "famous lines from poems" and I found a site that listed the ten most famous poetry lines.  Then, I rearranged them so it would make some sort of sense and I think it actually does!  You be the judge.

Putting in My Two Centos

(I can't resist a pun)

Once upon a midnight dreary, 

while I pondered weak and weary

Into the valley of Death 

Rode the six hundred

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole, 

By the shore of Gitchie Gumee, 

By the shining Big-Sea-Water,

Water, water, every where,

And all the boards did shrink

I think that I shall never see 

A poem lovely as a tree.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord

Shall I compare thee to a summers day

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways

Here's how to sign CONTEST:

Here's how to sign CHALLENGE:

You can find more signs on:

 ASL Browser, ASL Pro, or Signing Savvy.