Photo by John McKaveney: Bright Moon
The Moon is very important to us in many ways a lot of people don’t realize. Without the Moon and the delicate balance it creates, life on Earth may not have evolved. It also helps protect us from Solar System debris like asteroids (as is evident from all the craters scarring its surface). For over four billion years, the Moon has silently witnessed from afar, the rise and fall of life on our planet several times, as well as the most recent rise of our own species a relatively short time ago. From the earliest humans, to us today, the Moon has mystified and inspired us, and ultimately called us to leave our own cradle to explore the universe. — John McKaveney
Even as the clouds
roll in I can count
on your face
bathed in starlight
as morsels of its light.
we are simply small creatures
alive for a millisecond of time.
meteors and stardust in my head,
we are shapeless yet shaped
[Luna] a steady satellite
what mysteries its silver and gold sands hide
we want to see it all.
will you take me there?
I converse with heavens, make a few notes
fingers delicately plucking a harp,
understand first
then collaborate
in simple acts to
making patterns of themselves on the front of your world.
But you know better. The portal you seek needs no such key.
following my otherworldly life plan
I remember the night you set me free.
Spreading love of a new beginning,
adrift in the mystic
ghostly silhouettes cuddle
Floating away, floating away,
Looking up at you
I get the feeling you are
looking down at me
my lungs are poetry with every breath.
a universe of liminal space,
silhouettes in the night
Spirits soar beyond
they are out of this world
yet, they often check in…
do they question our existence?
Astounded by every glimpse…
On a clear night
building structures
in the air
to meet the sky
if we extend
our arms far enough,
a birth place of stars
in the contours of a little one all curled up tight,
like an angel transpiring from darkness,
in simple acts to
touch our stubborn hearts
as dusk slips away
dreamed I was lost outside in the full eclipse,
Trees or perhaps tall horses that stand unflinching in the moonlight,
vanilla ice cream clouding its surface like clouds over the moon.
Moonshadows are not the moon.
charismatic, she floats across-
speaks to me in whispers.
rustles under serene stars
something tangible, immanent
Allure unsubtle
moon's wax vexed, waned
eclipsed in mist flee the blade
Ignoring its blemishes out of love
garlands of starlight strung out
on the horns of the moon,
earthlings write poetry
on the moon
and a starman, always.
surrounded by millions of lights
and then swoon
This cento poem used one or more lines from every poem in the dVerse April 2, 2024 prompt, “Stepping Out of This World!” I chose the April 2nd prompt because it was on a common theme and there weren’t too many linked up to be able to handle all of them. The lines are attributed and linked below:
Links
Stanza 1
lines 1-3 Frank Tassone
line 4 Helen
line 5 Bjorn
Stanza 2
lines 1-2Lillian
line 3Kim
line 4 Grace
Stanza 3
line 1 Lisa (me)
line 2 Punam
line 3 Lisa (me)
line 4 Marie Christine
Stanza 4
line 1-2 Sanaa
line 3-4 Reena
line 5 Paul
line 6 Judy
line 7 Kerfe
Stanza 5
line 1 Rob
line 2 Frank
line 3 Rog
line 4-5 Di
line 6 Rog
Stanza 6
line 1-3 Peter
line 4 Melissa
line 5 Dora
line 6 Truedessa
Stanza 7
line 1 Dwight
line 2-3 Benjamin
line 4 Punam
line 5 V Sparrow
Stanza 8
line 1 Jane S
line 2-4 Reena
line 5-6 Sara
line 7 Jane S
line 8 Lady in Read
line 9 Kitty
line 10-11 Paul
line 12 Helen
Stanza 9
line 1 Denise
line 2-3 Judy
Stanza 10
line 1 Judy
line 2-3 Kitty
line 4 David
line 5 Paul
Stanza 11
line 1 V Sparrow
line 2 Paul
line 3 Denise
line 4 Sadje
line 5-6 Jane D
Stanza 12
line 1-2 Reena
line 3 Jane D
line 4 Cris
line 5 Reena
Melissa is today’s host of dVerse’ Poetics. Melissa says:
Option 1: choose any line from any poem in the links below and write a poem including the line or inspired by the line. You may use the line as an epigraph. Whether you include the line in its entirety or not, please credit the author in your post, including their name and the title of their poem. Include a link to the work.
Tao Talk 
Wow.. this was very impressive, what a tour de force to get it together… I am that starman swooning now.
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<3 Thank you, starman.
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I agree! This is swoon-worthy 😍😍
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Sanaa thanks. Does it pull together right? I hope so.
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It does! 💖💖
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<3
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AH-MA-ZING! I felt like I was watching an animated Japanese film or reading the screenplay for one. I especially love this stanza:
“On a clear night
building structures
in the air
to meet the sky
if we extend
our arms far enough,
a birth place of stars
in the contours of a little one all curled up tight,
like an angel transpiring from darkness,
in simple acts to
touch our stubborn hearts
as dusk slips away”
And of course, the closing is another favorite. Thank you for writing to the prompt and putting so much time into your wonderful collaborative creation!🙏🏻❤️
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Melissa, thanks so much. I made it a mission, and mission accomplished :)
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Your cento is ‘out of this world’, Lisa, and I like the John McKaveney quote you chose to introduce it. It was a labour of love to find all those lines to fit the theme, and you did a great job.
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Kim, thank you <3 It was a labor of love, thank you for noticing.
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My pleasure, Lisa.
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‘Applause!’
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Thanks, Jane. I like how it turned out.
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Beautifully done, Li! What an accomplishment!
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It felt like a job, especially when WP editor refused to cooperate! Thank you, Merril.
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You’re welcome, Li. 🙂
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Amazing how you put all of that together!
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Thanks so much, C4Y2 :)
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An awesome Cento, it flows so well. Amazing work!
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Di, I’m glad you think so. Thanks so much :)
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Bravo, well crafted
much♡love
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Thanks, Gillena!
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Beautiful, Lisa. A real wander in wonder at the universe, our place in it and perhaps a reference to Bowie! I didn’t follow all the linked references but believe this is quite an extraordinary amalgamation of ideas you’ve woven with your words.
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Steve, the poets at dVerse are amazing. We all wrote ekphrastic poems based on photos of the moon, outer space, and an observatory. With a similar theme, I thought it would be cool to use to build the cento.
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The moon, sun, water, air…all in a balancing act…
I don’t normally recommend anime but I think you would like The Last Airbender…NOT the movie but cartoon series Lisa. It’s well done and it’s over the balance of fire, water, air, and earth. I really think it’s up your alley.
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Max, I think you recommended it to me before and it is on my to-watch list. One of these days :)
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What an amazing poem crafted Li. I’m so honored that you’ve included a line from my poem too. 💕🙏🏼💕
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Sadje, thank you so much. I included at least one line from every poem that was written to that prompt. It was an honor to put it together, my friend.
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Thank you kindly my friend 🩷
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Oh my Lisa, you truly rose to the challenge!! I find this so light and airy, mystical, spiritual….thought-provoking. The results of your skillful stitching is STUNNING!
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Mish, it is kind of amazing how it came together. It was an interesting process. I thank the wonderful dVerse poets who made it possible.
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A tour de force. (too bad my poem was removed from Mr. Linky…I would have enjoyed being included too) That’s a great quote as well. (K)
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Kerfe, I have just amended the poem. Take a look and see what you think:
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That’s so nice of you Jade! And it fits perfectly. Thank you!
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It was only right, and you’re right, it fits perfectly. You’re welcome <3
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Lisa, You’ve used our lines to build a rocketship to the stars, and you’ve done it seamlessly and with a passionate love of poetry’s ability to carry us away beyond ourselves. A gorgeous tapestry, exquisitely threaded. 🙌💛✨
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<3 Dora, so pleased you are pleased by it. I tried my best. "a rocketship to the stars" I like that :)
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Tremendous effort! Sharing this.
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Thanks, Reena. Please do <3
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What a great idea, Lisa. Awesome poem.
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Thanks, Robbie!
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👍
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as wordsmith you have forged a tour de force – all that effort of gathering and collating under the spell of the moon
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<3 high praise, Laura, thank you.
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Wow!! Beautifully crafted, Li. Thank you for including mine. :)
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You’re welcome, Kitty :)
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Lisa!! Gold Medal, Purple Heart, Medal of Honour, Blue Ribbon, Tony, Emmy, Oscar, Grammy! Not enough accolades to say how impressive this cento is!!!!!
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Helen, I love the way cento meaningfully repurposes lines of poetry. Thank you <3
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Absolutely impressive… and lovely
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Debi, thank you so much.
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Good heavens! A triumph of multi-dimensional cut-and-paste, and somehow feels like “all your own words”. Beautiful.
I agree with what Dora says, above … Moon love from Kathy
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Kathy, your comment makes me smile. Thank you for Your Moon Love <3
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AWESOME, Li! Since I have written one, I know the time and effort it requires. All the lines flow seamlessly. Thanks so much for including lines from my poem. Bravo!❤️
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Punam, yes it takes a bit to include that many. I loved yours also. Thank you, my friend <3
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You are very welcome and thank you. ❤️
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<3
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