Whittled Words – Reverse Poem
Welcome to the weekly series, Whittled Words. A series highlighting the innumerable types and styles of poetry to challenge any creative wordsmith. This week’s selection:
REVERSE POEM
This unique form of poetry has no requirements for subject, meter, rhyme scheme, reference, syllabic count, line/stanza/verse length, or any of the other trappings we have come to associate with form poetry. Although, as with any poetry, there should be an obvious flow to the words. But don’t let that openess fool you. It can be harder to meet this form than it is to meet many others we have reviewed.
Reverse poems are written to be read top to bottom, and conversely, to be read bottom to top. When read in reverse, the poem should elicit a reversal of the tone and sentiment that is given reading it forward. Some incorrectly refer to this as “mirror” poetry, but that is an entirely different form, which we will address at some point in this series, hopefully.
I have no great tricks to help in your attempts at this form. The success will be prefaced mostly on just plain hard work. It may help to write lines alternating between positive and negative statements, and then use connective lines that join the two and flow naturally with both. It is a lot of trial and error, mixed with an eye for editing and a good deal of creativity.
Examples of Reverse Poems:
by Matt P
I’d ask, will you?
No, it won’t happen for
I’d say it’s over
‘I do love you!’
You’re wrong
Why’d think that?
It is not true
Never truly cared
Don’t think I did
You’re not for me
I can’t say that
You’re all I need
With you, I’m…me
You think, but no!
I’m restrained
Chains I’m bound
You stripped the
Freedom I have
Set me free!
In your hold, don’t
You keep me
Leave me alone!
Let me be, don’t
Stay, please don’t
(Now read from bottom to top)
STAY DON’T LEAVE
REFUGEES
By Brian Bilston
They have no need of our help
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or me
Should life have dealt a different hand
We need to see them for who they really are
Chancers and scroungers
Layabouts and loungers
With bombs up their sleeves
Cut-throats and thieves
They are not
Welcome here
We should make them
Go back to where they came from
They cannot
Share our food
Share our homes
Share our countries
Instead let us
Build a wall to keep them out
It is not okay to say
These are people just like us
A place should only belong to those who are born there
Do not be so stupid to think that
The world can be looked at another way
(Now read from bottom to top)
PLEASURE OR PAIN
By Brad Osborne
I am a shuttered soul
Refusing to believe that
Happiness waits for me
It may come as a surprise
Yet I loved so openly
Seen false in every word
Love conquers all things
In the years that come
It will be ready seen
Love doesn’t always win
But more important
It is the greatest gift
So, I will tell you this
It may have been so once
Best is better than good
Yet in these times
It fails to fill the heart
The knowers say
Don’t hide your heart away
The future lies ahead
Pain follows so closely
Don’t let it be well said
It is all you hoped it be
Seen in the evidence
A tragic repeated lie
A foolish mind thinks
Love is everything
(Now read from bottom to top)
PAIN OR PLEASURE
I hope you have enjoyed this entry to the series, Whittled Words. I look forward to your comments, and if you dare, maybe share your own Reverse poem. Thanks for reading!
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[…] TRY READING THIS FROM THE BOTTOM UP TOO (as explained here https://commonsensiblyspeaking.wordpress.com/2020/05/15/whittled-words-reverse-poem/) […]
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commonsensiblyspeaking 
Beautiful poems
Thank you, Era! Kind of you to say. Thanks for reading and commenting.
I love the examples you give, and your own is lretty amazing.
So kind of you to say! IF you enjoyed the first poem, you can click on the title or the author’s name to get to Matt’s blog. There you will find some amazing poetry and other literary entertainment. Thanks for all your support! ❤
I will look later. Thankyou.
masterful word work/art
Thank you, Beth! Have a great weekend! 🌹
I love your poem, Brad! Love oh, love
Thanks again for using my work as an example and linking back to my post 🙂
No, Matt, it is I who should be thanking you for allowing me to use your poetry here. It is perfect to form and a beautiful example. I am doing my readers a great service in making it easy and convenient for them to find and enjoy your art. 😊
Still, thanks. I’m kind of stubborn 😉
Here’s another reverse poem I’ve written, Brad. I tried a new theme reversal. Title’s Dying Star.
-Dying Star
Yes, see me, please!
Look at me,
Stargazer
I still love you
Even in my demise
But it makes me explode that
Love-struck,
You’re looking
Where I’m at;
In this sea of dying stars
Not
In the brightest clusters
To where the Orion is;
You’re looking
With a stellar smile,
True!
How can you look at me?
To the candescent stars
You look past my dying light,
They say
I don’t believe that!
Of my dying star
You ease the fleeting flare
You are my stargazer
It is an illusion to think
You are not
You’re my every photon
In my core, you are the fusion
Fallen out of light
Soon, I’ll be a dark star
Stargazer,
Another ‘stellar’ example of the form, Matt! 🌟 The two stanza format is tied together beautifully. The length shows real mastery of creating and maintaining a moment. I even love the titling. Your creativity is unbound and so worthy of sharing. Thanks, my friend!
Thanks, Brad! But hey, it all comes back to your encouragement and inspirational words.
Wow! Your reverse poem is beautiful!!! 😍😍 I am amazed at how beautifully it flows. I have tried to write one but all I can seem to do is crumble up paper and throw it across the room!! Perhaps I am not the poet I thought I was. Maybe I should just stick to fiction. Lol. You will never cease to amaze me. ❤
If you gave up on things, you wouldn’t be the beautiful woman you have become. There is no question about your talent with poetry. Reverse poems are hard and take many iterations and edits to get to something that feels right. As you know, writing in one particular form is not a measure of talent. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I love your creativity and way with the written word, regardless of the style or form you choose! ❤💕❤
Thank you, Brad. I cannot nor will I ever give up on poetry or writing in general. I need it like I need air. This form? Maybe. Lol. Maybe it’s the rebel in me lashing out at my inner adult for making her conform to a rule. Maybe I need to spend some time in my kitchen. Kneading bread, rolling out dough, decorating a cake…. sometimes it’s all it takes to help me find my flow. Maybe there is an upside to having so many passions and being a lover of so many things!
Go burn some biscuits, girlfriend! 😂🤣😁
🤣😂🤣😂 I might make some buttermilk biscuits, but I hope I don’t burn them.
These are amazing. I particularly enjoyed ‘Refugees’ — very, very clever!
Yes, my favorite too! Brain Bilston is a renown poet and novelist that has been referred to as the “Poet Laureate of Twitter”. Great stuff! Thanks for all your support!
that looks incredibly challenging, but you did a wonderful job putting your poem together.
It was tricky! I won’t be making a living with this form, let’s just leave it at that…. Have a great weekend and be well. Say Hi to Pat for me!
thanks, Brad, and will do!
I loveeeddd reading this post, your poems sound awesome when read aloud!
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you, H. R.! So very kind to say ❤
You can call me Phoenix 💖
Just the truth ❤️🤗
That is really interesting and looks difficult. I am going to give it a try though! We shall see.
Here is my attempt….I think it works! https://christinebialczak.com/2020/05/15/whittled-words-reverse-poem-posted-by-brad-osborne-on-may-15-2020/
Thank you for sharing. I will check it out!