The first time I ever heard Sarah Kay perform “Hands,” I was speechless. She was young, polished, and profoundly moving in her delivery. She’s the living poet I’m celebrating today during the Slice of Life Challenge. Each poet’s collection has inspired me to take a selection of their existing lines and rearrange them, creating a Cento poem from their work.
Sarah quickly became a favorite, and one whose YouTube videos I share with my book club when I send out morning poems during National Poetry Month. Imagine my surprise when I learned that she was coming to Serenbe Pavilion in Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia this May! Serenbe is an hour from where I live – a Saturday night drive well worth the cost of a reserved seat. I can’t wait to hear her in person – I’m thinking of it as a small pre-retirement gift to myself to ignite the flame of all the poetry events I’ll finally be able to attend, even if they’re on weeknights. For today, I’m thumbing through A Little Daylight Left and indulging in the joy of her writing.
You can read more about Sarah Kay here; this link has her famous Ted Talk “If I Should Have a Daughter” embedded into the article with the interview.
My Cento:
I study the metronome of his breath
I am a snow globe of worry
So maybe this is a Magic Cat
A tricky riddle cleverly solved
We laugh & laugh & laugh
These lines were taken from the following poems, in this order:
An additional thought today:
When I woke up and read a post this morning from Peter at Five Hundred a Day, I realized that I, too, have been fishing for the place my words are looking for (don’t miss his blog post today – it’ll bring a tear or two or a Kleenex full). In 2025, a colleague and I started an office book club. Recently, she has become a Silent Book Club host, and we have both seen our husbands, infrequent readers prior to this additional club, show up and take ownership in “their” book club. It has been a blessing, and as our ladies’ book club meets for our discussions and adventures, our husbands will go have dinner and discussions of their own. I made a mental note: there is something to showing up without expectation to discuss a book that appeals to folks..
I share all of this to say that like Peter, I’ve been fishing for an in-person writing group in my town and nearby smaller towns, and I found the Silent Book Club equivalent in a group called Shut Up & Write (SUAW). Each writing group where I can share with others is so unique, but one type of group I don’t have in my life and desperately need is in-person. I applied and have apparently made the cut, was approved as an organizer, and will complete my onboarding training during Spring Break in a week and a half. I’m casting my reel out to ask if anyone has attended a Shut Up & Write event and to ask for your experiences. I’d love to get your thoughts.
Common Threads 
“I am a snow globe of worry…” – I can relate, though my goal for retirement is to stop shaking that globe.
Kim, I hope the SUAW turns out to be exactly what you are searching for!
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Thank you, Lori! I do too!
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Kim,
I lost my original comment as I tried to read the sticks to retrieve a line and the image turned and would not return to its original position. Talk about “a tricky middle [not] cleverly solved.” And instead of laughing, I’m cry, cry, crying. Literally. I love Sarah Kay’s poetry and used “Hands” and “If I Had a Daughter” in both speech and English classes.
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I’m so sorry – – I was in such a hurry this morning to get out the door that I didn’t have time to type the poem in as I normally do, but I have gone back and typed it. We had a fun day with our oldest grandson and came home with that great tired feeling of knowing we lived the day to its fullest. Thanks for reading!
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I only have seen Sarah’s tedtalk. Thanks for linking the Hands performance and showing me she has a published book, too! And for sharing about how you will be going to see Sarah Kay. I just looked and she is coming to Maryland on April 23rd…about an hour drive and on a school night but so what! I am so excited to experience Sarah Kay LIVE!! I can’t thank you enough for sharing about poets this March! You are a gem. Also, I wished you and I lived closer as I’d love to be in an in-person writing club with you!
Fran and I and one other writer meet monthly during the school year and more often during the summer. We ensure all have something to write about. We set the timer and write – usually 30-45 minutes. Then we read aloud what we wrote and offer a comment or feedback. It is so powerful to be in person, write and share. I hope you find a group that works for you!
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Sally, I wish I lived closer too. I’d come to your slicing party. Glenda, Denise, Barb and I meet once a month via Google Meet and write together as well, and share as part of our Stafford Challenge small group. We enjoy the company and the process of sharing and catching up with each other. I love each of my writing groups but also yearn for an in person one as well. Thanks for reading today – – Sarah Kay will be where you are before she’s where I am, and so I am looking forward to hearing all about it! Sometimes it’s well worth the hour journey on a school night and the exhaustion the next day. I know this poet will be!
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I almost always play my class “If I Should Have a Daugther” as it is so rich in metaphor and description. Her delivery is it’s own conversation. Sad to say, I didn’t know she had a book, but will be looking for it.
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Hi, Heidi, thanks for reading! I know she has at least two, and they are both filled with wonderful poems. The one I shared today is her latest.
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II’d join your group if I was closer! I don’t know of any in my area of NJ. I have tried a few book clubs, but have not found a great fit for that either. I share with a few reading friends online/zoom and joined the writing group through TWT this month. My biggest and best book discussions and shares of late have been in the locker room after aquacise class! Crazy
This line, “L am a snow globe of worry” captures how I feel about this world right now. I see it as a tee shirt
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Anita, thanks for reading, and it’s definitely interesting how many lines of random poetry capture the feeling of the world right now. Poets just seem to do that.
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Kim, I love seeing your cento sticks in action. It reminds me I want to make some. I’m intrigued with “I study the metronome of his breath.” Thanks for sharing the link to Peter’s post today. It was great to read.
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Denise, thanks for reading! Our small group needs a retreat – – with cento sticks and Poems to Be from your bag and writing and sharing.
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Glad to be reminded of Sarah Kay. I only know her “Hands” video which I had used in my graduate class for future English teachers. I think I found that listed in Kelly Gallagher’s book 180 Days. I hope to check out more of Sarah Kay’s poems and you tube videos. Thanks again for your amazing poetry offerings this month.
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Thank you so much for reading! She is one amazing poet, and I’m so glad to see those of a younger generation infusing new lifeblood into poetry. They are the future.
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