Daniel Henry Rodgers Poet Cento

Notes About The Poem

"Some questions aren't meant to be solved
they're meant to be lived."

- Poet

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The Song Doesn't Remain the Same

epigraph:
A Field Guide to the Questions
That Survived the Fire
I Didn’t Start

—

I. The Songs

When peace like a river
        When, for whom

I still haven’t found
what I’m looking for
        Why here

here comes the sun
        Whose morning

the answer is blowing
in the wind
        Why ask
        What if

a change is gonna come
        When it circles back
        Amen?

all you need is love
        What then

what’s love got to do with it
        Why love, then

every breath you take
        Who owns
        I’m not yours.
        Not now

like a rolling stone
        Which road

you can’t always get
        Why try
        Why dream,
        anymore

I heard it through the grapevine
        Why now

imagine all the people
       What remains—

—

II. The Poets

When—
hope is the thing with feathers

Why—
the center cannot hold

How—
I contain multitudes

Where—
in a dark wood,
midway

When again—
a dream deferred
darkens

What then—
dare to disturb
the universe

So why love at all—
it cuts,
and you
were always
already open

Who watches—
someone will remember us,
not save us

Which road—
I saw my life
branching before me

What remains—
nothing will come
of nothing

Why now—
the hour is out of joint
dislocated

Then what—
        the same dark wood.
        midway.
        again.

—

Coda

and after the songs
and after the poets
and after every question—

a chasm inside you
God left there
before the Word.

don’t answer.

it doesn’t need a way—
it is
the way.

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Andrea Dietrich June 5, 2026 at 12:07 AM Well this is sure an interesting poem. Loved that initial reference to Billy Joel's song. Like life, everything circles around!

Bj Legros Kelley May 9, 2026 at 4:30 PM Wow, how did you even do this, it is amazing, a true work of art. I am in awe of this work! Blessings to you Daniel! Daniel Henry Rodgers May 20, 2026 at 12:52 PM Dear Bj, Your awe means a lot. This poem came from a place where questions kept circling back on themselves, and I just followed them. Thank you for receiving it with such open wonder, that’s a gift. Blessings, Daniel

I Am Anaya May 8, 2026 at 2:56 PM We live and learn, feel its burn, become our own songs that change us, if lucky. This has brought me inspiration, thoughts of music as memories flash through my mind. My favorite song is "here comes the sun" Whose morning. An emotive ending. Enjoyed immensely! May blessings Daniel Henry Rodgers May 20, 2026 at 12:53 PM Dear Anaya, You always read with your whole spirit. I love how you wove music, memory, and the burn of living into your response. “Here comes the sun” is a perfect doorway into this piece, whose morning, indeed. Thank you for letting the poem stir something real. Blessings, Daniel

Paige Hind May 7, 2026 at 11:24 PM This is amazing, I love the italics... deep and unique. Great, Daniel Daniel Henry Rodgers May 20, 2026 at 12:53 PM Dear Paige, Thank you for your kind words. The italics were my way of letting the questions breathe on their own. I’m glad the uniqueness of the structure spoke to you. Blessings, Daniel

Zyrool Gifford May 7, 2026 at 9:19 AM Hello Daniel, this is a brilliantly creative write. I totally agree with your quote.. Daniel Henry Rodgers May 20, 2026 at 12:54 PM Hello Zyrool, I appreciate your thoughtful note. That opening quote really is the compass for the whole poem, some questions aren’t puzzles, they’re companions. Thank you for seeing the creativity in the weave. Blessings, Daniel

Lin Lane May 5, 2026 at 5:45 AM Song lyrics and poetry verses are artistic versions from mind, heart and soul. Intermingled with the Coda you have added, the intermingling brings about questions that have an infinitesimal amount of meaning, depending on whose eyes are reading, whose ears are listening, and what living life means to each individual. That's a point of interpretation that makes these arts so overwhelming interesting! Quite an imaginative write, Daniel. Daniel Henry Rodgers May 20, 2026 at 12:55 PM Dear Lin, I love your reflections. You’re right meaning shifts depending on who’s listening, who’s hurting, who’s hoping. That’s why the questions stay open. Thank you for stepping into the poem with such depth. Blessings, Daniel

Anne Winter May 4, 2026 at 6:04 PM Dearest Daniel, this poem felt like a path for those who feel lost. I hope we all find the way. You've written this poem wonderfully! I'm adding this poem to my favs. With love and respect always, Anne Daniel Henry Rodgers May 20, 2026 at 12:55 PM Dearest Anne, Your words touched me. Yes, this poem is a path for the lost, or maybe for the ones who know they’re wandering. I’m honored it spoke to you enough to save it. With love and respect back to you. Blessings, Daniel

Beryl Edmonds May 4, 2026 at 10:42 AM Why do fools fall in love - Why don’t we just dance - Don’t know why, why oh why - Why can’t we just be friends - Why? Daniel Henry Rodgers May 4, 2026 at 10:51 AM Dear Beryl, When I started writing this, it began with Billy Joel's song I Didn't Start the Fire and then the poem fell into place. But I wanted the second section to be the poets who could answer their questions, but then opened up to more questions. It was fun to create. I wrote this about a month ago. Blessings, Daniel