{"id":839,"date":"2007-08-17T00:01:08","date_gmt":"2007-08-17T06:01:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=839"},"modified":"2007-08-17T00:04:13","modified_gmt":"2007-08-17T06:04:13","slug":"poetry-friday-happy-birthday-eisha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=839","title":{"rendered":"Poetry Friday: Happy birthday, Eisha!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"aIt\u2019s not only Poetry Friday, a definite cause for celebration in our book any \u2018ol week, but today is Eisha\u2019s birthday<\/strong><\/font>! Happy birthday to her! <\/p>\n

This might be a real stretch, but here\u2019s what I did for her birthday, which happens to fall on the day we celebrate poetry: I wrote a cento<\/a><\/strong>! Having been inspired to create one, thanks to a post<\/a><\/strong> over at The Miss Rumphius Effect<\/a><\/em><\/strong>, I decided for my cento (a poem made entirely of pieces from poems by other authors) to be created from lyrics from some of Eisha\u2019s favorite songs. Yes, each line of the cento is from a different song. It was harder than I thought, but I hope she at least gets a kick out of it, recognizing the words from some of her favorite tunes. The songs from which each line comes (and the musicians) are listed below the cento. <\/p>\n

Did I, ahem, mention it\u2019s a stretch? And it was too difficult to make a cheery, happy birthday-esque one. But it was fun, and I hope it makes a modicum of sense. <\/p>\n

Happy birthday, Eisha! Here\u2019s your birthday cento, pieced together from some of your favorite songs . . . <\/p>\n

How can I believe that everything in this world is going to be fine?
\nJust a shakin’ in my knees, just a cold chill.
\nMy own hound-dog sat right down and cried.<\/p>\n

I’m going where the water tastes like wine.
\nCan I get away again tonight?
\n(We will meet later to finalize the details)
\nI’ll find a soapbox where I can shout it
\nLonger than the road that stretches out ahead.<\/p>\n

All I could think of was sunlight.<\/p>\n

Who made up all the rules?
\n We follow them like fools.<\/p>\n

I’m feeling thankful
\n for the small things today.
\nDig me a hot coffee
\nUnder a lilac tree.
\nKeep my soul away from harm.
\nLife is crazy.
\nYou gotta fight for your right
\n to party. <\/p>\n

Well, it’s just a simple fact:
\nI just want to play on my panpipes.
\nMake me a poster
\n Of an old rodeo.<\/p>\n

If I get home before daylight,
\n I just might get some sleep tonight.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Well, I gave it my best shot. Ain’t gonna win any poetry awards, yo. Plus, I couldn’t get Kadir Nelson<\/a><\/strong> to pop out of that cake (pictured above) for Eisha, which I’m sure she’d prefer. By the way, that cake is one made by the fabulous Magpies<\/a><\/strong> in Knoxville, Tennessee, and I hope they forgive me for lifting the image. I wish Eisha and I were sitting and eating that cake right now. With a yummy cup of joe, too. Mmmm. <\/p>\n

Happy birthday, Eisha!<\/strong><\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/center><\/p>\n

Here are the songs from whence those lyrics came . . . <\/p>\n