Shake My Brain Over the Page and This is What Sprinkles Out: A Cento
exploring time
imagination makes room
embroidery as play / craft is political
priceless and worthless, simultaneously
women’s work —
this long thread
with her own hands —
let’s move the needle
(c) Drafty McDraft, 2026
The Sources:
Exploring Time
“…imagination makes room…“
Embroidery as Play / craft is political
priceless and worthless, simultaneously [from a text I sent]
Women’s Work
This Long Thread
With Her Own Hands
Let’s Move The Needle
Patricia has this week’s Poetry Friday Roundup at Reverie.
A(nother) Year of Reading 
Yes — delightful cento. Love that you ended with ” let’s move the needle”! Those face sketches are so fun — bottom right one reminds me of you. 🙂
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Ha! You’re right! Just need the hair to be longer!
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Mary Lee, You strung together wonderful lines with that shake-out! I love the mash-up of “imagination makes room” with “let’s move the needle.” (Calling John Lennon!) I wish I had the courage to try the drawing. You are really good at it!
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No courage necessary for those faces! Start with a variety of flesh-tone blobs and add features!
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Love the painting! And I’m thinking about that long thread…may there be a season (or more!) for everything! xo
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Trying to comment again. I want to take more creative classes than going with the lets-produce-the-same-painting method. You do well in drafty drafts.
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Love the cento and the lines you picked to put together. But, I really like Drafty McDraft! This made me smile and laugh! Thanks!
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Yes, “let’s move the needle” and what fun drawings, thanks Drafty McDraft, terrific!
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Yes, “let’s move the needle” and what fun drawings, thanks Drafty McDraft, terrific!
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Yes, “let’s move the needle” and what fun drawings, thanks Drafty McDraft, terrific!
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Mary Lee, this post is such a delight! From the watercolor sketch, to that amazing poem title, to your illuminating cento that celebrated women and what they can can do!!!Thank you, Drafty McDraft!:)
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(c) Drafty McDraft – HA! You are too much. Yay on the sketches – you’ve captured a lot of character! And love the long thread image…. Yes with a capital Y to moving the needle!!
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So many awesome things are going on in your mash up! Every time I read it, I find another nuance (or thread?) I love your collection of faces and your embracing of yet another creative endeavor! (Wow, you and Margaret are leading the way on that!) Your title is epic here, and I’m totally envious! (I shared a “no title yet” piece today. No surprise! lol)
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Let’s move the needle. Yessss! This is fun, Mary Lee. Love the whimsical sketches, too.
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Oh, my goodness…yes! Let’s move that needle, our needles, THE needle. What a rich poem. I love your watercolor shake out. Fabulous…especially the little beastie in the bottom center. The way you keep creating inspires me!
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I love your sketch and Drafty McDraft is such fun! Always amazed at what you come up with. Thanks!
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Mary Lee, I’m inspired by your Cento. Love your inked painted piece and how the characters emerge. Special shout out to the last stanza, women’s work — this long thread, with her own hands —let’s move the needle. Yes!
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priceless and worthless, priceless and worthless
the draft the product the process
shaky sketchy drafty mcmishmash of sprinkles
salt and pepper move the needle
just need the thread to be longer, longer
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Thanks for completing my June Inklings challenge! HAHA!
But seriously. Thanks for dancing with my words.
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