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Writer's pictureDamian Kelly-Basher

Hampshire Poet blog - July 2024

During his two year tenure, your new Hampshire Poet - Damian Kelly-Basher - will be writing a series of blog posts for us sharing what he has been up to, telling us his poetic plans for the future, and inviting you to get involved in poetry in Hampshire. Read on to find out what's happening in Damian's world!


The only authenticated portrait of Emily Dickinson after early childhood - Daguerreotype taken at Mount Holyoke, December 1846 or early 1847 (Image from Wikipedia)

In this blog, Damian discusses Using pre-existing words as inspiration for poems:

                                                                                        


The Cento* 

This is a type of poem made by taking lines from other poems, song lyrics or films and rearranging them in new ways.  



Centos are easy, fun, and don’t need any writing experience. You can make a cento whatever your language, age, background or ability. You can make them as a group to share, connect and have fun with words together.                                                                                                                                                      



Centos are very useful for any shared writing activity or workshop, especially with children & young people. They’re great for ‘drop in’ poetry activities at community events. Using translation software, anyone can now add lines from their own language, adding extra flavour to a larger, ‘community’ poem.  


Because they’re based on what people already know and like (a favourite poem, song or film), centos are also an easy way into writing poetry. 



Examples

Poet Lynne Thompson’s collection ‘Blue on a Blue Palette’ has several good examples; as does  



Writing Exercise 

  • Choose 6-8 lines from a mix of your favourite poems, songs or films.

  • Rearrange them into a new poem

  • If you do it as a group, get each person to choose 2 lines and arrange together.



My Poem

My Cento just uses poem titles by the brilliant American poet, Emily Dickinson (1830-1886). 

Find me on insta: @damkellybash                                                                                                                                                     

 * Thanks to LA Poet Lynne Thompson for her advice on the uses of the cento.  



Damian Kelly-Basher is Hampshire Poet Laureate 2024-26. The appointment of the Hampshire Poet takes place every two years and is jointly led by Winchester Poetry Festival and Hampshire Cultural Trust. The position of Hampshire Poet provides the opportunity for a Hampshire-based poet to undertake commissions, lead workshops and give readings and talks throughout the county, as well as acting as an advocate for poetry and poets.


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