It’s Poetry Friday and today I’m celebrating the Chinese/Lunar New Year.

This year I participated in Poetry Friday friend Jone Rush MacCulloch’s New Year post card exchange. Thank you to all who sent me post cards. I loved the variety of form, the nod to nature, and the well wishes, optimism, and hope. This morning, after reading through all your lovely words once again, I decided to honor you with a cento of my favorite lines. I also included one from my own “The Year of the Fire Horse.” (For context, 1966 was the last year of the Fire Horse.)

The Year of the Fire Horse

In 1966, the fire horse 
galloped to the stars
to explore the moon.

It was a time
of bold moves
and brave choices.

It’s what the world needs now.
Draft, RoseCappelli2026

With thanks to Mary Lee, Mona, Denise, Gail, Tracey, Patricia, and Molly. The words in italics are the borrowed lines.

A Cento for 2026

In a year of
hopeful optimism,
where mountain becomes mirror,
may we celebrate
with petal confetti,
and fully rejoice in
the truth of a new dawn.

May we
give it all we’ve got
to find
peace.

It’s what the world needs now.
Draft, 2026RoseCappelli

The talented Robyn Hood Black has the roundup today at Life on the Deckle Edge. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness and a peek at one of her newly created journals.