SJT & PF & NPM Day 4: A Cento of Lament

On the first Thursday of each month (I know it's Friday. I show up late sometimes.), I join a remarkable group of blogger friends to share our Spiritual Journeys. We take turns hosting and selecting the theme for that month of writing. 

This month, Ruth (currently living in Uganda) who blogs at There is no such thing as a godforsaken town, extended this invitation: "Consider writing about lament, the traditional posture of Lent. If you want to include the poetry element, you might write your own Psalm of lament; so many of the Psalms fit in this category."

I immediately thought of four big things I currently lament: death, disease, disasters, and despair. I've never written a Psalm before, much less a Psalm of lament, so I decided to create a cento. A cento (or collage poem) is a poetic form composed entirely of lines from poems by other poets, in my case, collected from my fellow travelers who posted to Spiritual Journey Thursday.

 A Cento of Lament

The road is winding, steep, rough. 

Do you hear our cries?

Bitter,

scared,

furious.

Do you care?  

 How long, my God,

 will we suffer these trials and tribulations?     

 Take away 

the violence

 the hatred

 the displacement

 the grief:

 Give us a world full of your love.

 A prayer . . . 

 Look on me with mercy, oh Lord my God.

 Give me Your light, that I might see.

 Let your word be alive and active in me.   

You, O God, are my strength.

 

- With deep gratitude to my fellow sojourners 

at Spiritual Journey Thursday for their beautiful words:

Denise, Patricia, Bob, Ruth

Karen (David Budbill), Fran, Linda, and Margaret. 

Poetry Friday is hosted by Matt at Radio, Rhythm & Rhyme this week. He is celebrating the publication of his debut poetry anthology, A Universe of Rainbows.

"Something poetic" every day is my commitment for NPM this year. 

I'll spotlight a favorite poem or book or poet or share a quote I love. 

Maybe I'll even stretch myself and occasionally write an original poem.