I finally had a chance to read Marilyn Singer’s Mirror Mirror (Dutton Children’s Books 2010). This collection of poems presents a new poetic form Singer invented called the reverso. A reverso is a poem that can be read both up and down. The only changes allowed are in punctuation and capitalization.
Singer’s poems present two sides to classic fairy tales. How might Beauty see her story differently than the Beast? What about the princess and the frog or Snow White and the witch or Little Red Riding Hood and the wolf? These clever verses show off brilliant word play. And the illustrations (split in half to reflect mirror images, too) by Josee Masse just add to the fun.
Of course, I wanted to try writing a reverso for myself. (I must confess I was a little intimidated at first–this word puzzle seemed impossibly hard.) While I loved the playful take on take on fairy tales and wanted to play along, once again the news dominated my thoughts. I hoped that this form would be an effective way to show the endless loop of blame and pointing fingers that we seem to be stuck in with our political discourse. We have got to find a way to move past treating people who disagree with us as the enemy.
IMPASS
Once more
an angry man
pulls the trigger on
a mass shooting.
Hate-filled speech
fuels
more blame
to demonize the other.
From left and right
the outrage
pours
once more.
Once more
pours
the outrage
from left and right
to demonize the other.
More blame
fuels
hate-filled speech.
A mass shooting
pulls the trigger on
an angry man
once more.
Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Carol has the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Carol’s Corner. Stop by and see what poetry morsels are offered this week.
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I’ve tried reversos but had no luck. They are challenging. This is very well done, Kay. An apt reflection of the difficult times we live in.
I was scared to tackle it at first. Thank you. I wish we didn’t live in such difficult times, but I wonder how many people in other others have though the same.
You did a great job. Sad but clever.
Thank you,
Wow. You have done an awesome job. The red version especially packs a punch. You have chosen your topic so well!
Thank you!
Good job on a challenging form, Kay! The last four lines really pack a punch.
Thank you!
Great job! What a challenging form — I give you credit for attempting it. Your choice of topic suits the form well — red, blue, left, right, blame on and from both sides, like a neverending loop. Excellent!
Thank you. I was hoping the form would echo my feelings that we are on an endless repeating loop.
Excellent Kay, especially for this poignant though sad topic! I tried a reverso poem when Michelle Heidenrich Barnes featured Marilyn Singer with her book, they are truly a challenge.
Thank you. It is certainly a challenging form, but one I’d like to keep playing with, too.
WOWZA! You nailed it!
Thanks!
It really is hard to escape the news, even when you are trying to. I have never been as riveted by it as I have since last year. You did a great job with a difficult form!
Thank you. Like you, I am watching the news more than I ever have.
This is really good! I am so impressed – not only have you mastered the technical aspect of the form, you’ve filled it with so much emotion and meaning. Well done!!
Thank you!
I agree with Linda! I have attempted reverso poems before and they are definitely not easy. And then you chose a really tough topic! Phew! My heart was broken yet again with this week’s happenings.
Thanks, Carol. I definitely found it a challenge, too. I find myself turning to poetry to try to make sense of the heart-break in the world.
Well done, Kay. I have written a few, & they aren’t easy, but fun to do.
Thanks, Linda. It definitely took a different way of thinking as I approached it. I want to try more–hopefully some more lighthearted ones.