Friday, June 1, 2012

Cemetery Cento

For Poetry Friday, I'm tipping my hat to a totally original found poem. Each word in this poem is a digital "rubbing" from headstones in Thornrose Cemetery in Staunton, Virginia. (Yes, "rah-rah" was on a headstone. And isn't the name of the cemetery perfect?)

Transition
by Harry Yeatts


Carol is our Poetry Friday host today.

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12 comments:

  1. jamaJune 1, 2012 at 10:48 AM

    Thanks so much for the Nota Bene, Tabatha! Great idea for an award. :)

    LOVE the found poem. Can't believe "rah rah" and "huddle" were on headstones. Very cool. "Rose morning" to begin, "Violet sunset" to end = perfect. Lives echoed, sensitive reflections -- perfect tone for a gravesite poem. "Transitions" is a great title, too.

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  2. Linda BJune 1, 2012 at 1:43 PM

    Oh my, Tabatha, thank you for this Nota Bene. That post is particularly dear to me because I wanted to reach so many others who in turn might also spread the word. Now perhaps your kindness will help me do that. I love the found poem. I rather like the 'finished course' and 'good marks'. Might be good for a teacher? I have taken students to a nearby cemetery (a planned post) to write, to speculate on what the dates and words tell us of the times we observe, and so on. But never to do found poetry. I will be sure to tell other teachers about this.

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  3. Robyn Hood BlackJune 1, 2012 at 1:46 PM

    Yes - a terrific idea, and a glorious logo! (And I remember Jama's post without looking it up - definitely award-worthy. I'd missed Linda's powerful post; thanks for sharing.)

    As a found-poem lover and haunter of cemetery gravestones, I'm "rah-rah"-ing over this one you shared here - thank you! :0)

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  4. madelynJune 1, 2012 at 1:48 PM

    Thanks for sharing these. I love looking at what people write on tombstones. "Shadows ruling" especially good combination of words.

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  5. TaraJune 1, 2012 at 5:40 PM

    How very cool to find the stuff for poetry in graveyards! I still can't get over the fact that that rah-rah was on a headstone!

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  6. Mary LeeJune 1, 2012 at 5:52 PM

    Love the Nota Bene idea! What a great way to recognize posts that touch our hearts.

    And that poem! Wow! I'm taking an imaginary walk through the cemetery as I read it, glancing at headstones and looking for the perfect words!

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  7. Fats Suela from Gathering BooksJune 1, 2012 at 9:17 PM

    What a cool idea! I love the poem. It's like an upgraded version of magnetic poetry. Thanks for sharing Tabatha. =)

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  8. Irene LathamJune 2, 2012 at 8:58 AM

    Tabatha, you're so cool. Love the Nota Bene. And your rubbings poem! LOVE!! Great and unexpected words there. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  9. RuthJune 2, 2012 at 12:01 PM

    What an amazing found poem!

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  10. Author AmokJune 3, 2012 at 8:51 AM

    What a cool idea for a found poem, Tabatha. Your poems remind me of some photos I took at London's Highgate Cemetary many years ago. I'll have to send some to you.

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  11. violetJune 3, 2012 at 11:58 PM

    Wow, there's always a pleasant surprise here. The Nota Bene is a wonderful way to give credit where due. The cemetery poem has many apt juxtapositions. And the graphic is perfect. How?

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  12. TabathaJune 4, 2012 at 9:04 PM

    Violet, he took photos of all the headstones and then used photoshop to make them look like a rubbing.

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