Poetry Friday - A Cento

I've been reading (for the umpteenth time) Walden: Or Life in the Woods by Henry David Thoreau. I just finished the chapter Winter Animals and was inspired by his words to write this cento.

Hills rose up around me
and in misty weather loomed
like fabulous creatures.

I could walk freely
far from the village street,
where I heard the forlorn but
melodious note,
quite familiar to me,
of a hooting owl.

At length the jays arrived
with discordant screams.
Then came the chickadees
in flocks, hammering away
with their bills.

And once a sparrow
alighted upon my shoulder.
For a moment,
I felt more distinguished
by that circumstance
than by any epaulet
I could have worn.

In the spirit of Andi's Poetry in Place endeavor, I'm going to hang this one in the gazebo on Westhampton Lake. I may even post a few along the path in the woods. As soon as I can get a picture or two, I'll post them here.

The round-up this week is at a wrung sponge. Please stop by and check out all the great poems posted. But wait! Before you go, be sure to read this week's poetry stretch results. Happy poetry Friday, all!