to see some strange sight
this is crowning
enlightenment
plain and clear and sweet
spread upon the mountains
of generations
it is the right to receive calm—
to see the pattern
to be in tune
with the binding nature
once or twice in a thousand years
perhaps a dozen times
angels laughed
in time’s meridian
it is pure diamond truth
the man and the hour joined hands
alongside the greatest verities
the place
the hour
the need
and the woman valiant
will either, with
simple, easy, pure words
teach no tongue
no mind
no heart
to fight manfully
or
do just that by giving
the great proclamation—
take this challenge:
universal, complete, all pervading
congealing on the right hand
and on the left
use every faculty and capacity
to make it intelligent
to be adopted
by the ancients
And it is now as it has always been
the hand from a quiet garden clasps
the hand on the great cornerstone
in perfect fellowship
Poet’s Notes:
The above cento poem is made up of phrases taken from five General Conference addresses by the late Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
- The Mystery of Mormonism, October, 1979
- The Ten Blessings of the Priesthood, October, 1977
- Once or Twice in a Thousand Years, October, 1975
- Be Valiant in the Fight of Faith, October, 1974
- Upon Judea’s Plains, April, 1973
Centos are collage poetry. For a brief background and example, visit poets.org.
Primary architectural image by Pixabay on Pexels.com. Secondary image, entitled Garden of Eden, from the New York Public Library Digital Collections.
Wheat & Tares 
This is fascinating, Jake. I didn’t even know “cento” is a thing.
This seems a monumental effort. When a poet goes about writing a cento, is the object to convey the subject’s message or a message of the poet using their phrases? I am assuming it is the latter. If your message, do you enter the writing process with a message and you search (seemingly endlessly) for phrases until you are done or does a message “appear” as you comb phrases that appeal to you and that becomes your theme? It seems like you have to write a poem with one hand tied behind your back.
Sorry, if my questions are off topic but this seems so difficult.
Hi Holden! The goal of the cento is really up to the poet. My understanding is that historically they have been an avenue for humor. Honestly, I wasn’t even familiar with the form until a year or two ago when I read Stephen Fry’s book The Ode Less Travelled. I love this book. Fry pointed out that centos can be a great way to learn more about a poet’s style.
With Bruce R. McConkie, I did not have a specific argument or theme I wanted to treat. Except that initially I wanted to see how far away I could get from his meaning. I listened/read all of his conference addresses, and then somewhat arbitrarily picked out the 5 cited above. From them, I pulled out phrases that struck me. Then I mixed and matched and let the material take me where it did. I don’t think I succeeded in getting very far from his themes. McConkie was so forceful and clear. But I liked where it ended up, a mix of his words and my mind. Thanks for reading and responding!
“I wanted to see how far away I could get from his meaning“
Very interesting. Thanks for posting your poem and responding. I will keep reading this poem to see where I end up.