I’m happy to be hosting Poetry Friday today! Thanks for reading and be sure to check out the links at the end of this post.
Last week for my poetry group, the Nevermores, Patricia posed the challenge to write a reverso poem. My thoughts immediately went to Marilyn Singer who invented the form and whose poems are so clever and witty.
How could I possibly do that? I like trying new poetry forms, but a reverso just seemed so hard. Patricia gave us a link to some tips from Marilyn here, I scoured the internet for more ideas, and finally decided I was ready to give it a go. I knew I wanted to write a poem that not only made sense reading from top to bottom or bottom to top, but also offered different points of view. I love fall, but since not everyone agrees with me that fall is the best season, I decided to use that as my subject. I began by writing down the pros and cons of fall, then looked for commonalities. For example, I enjoy the cooler weather after the heat and humidity of summer, but others may view cooler weather as a sign that winter is on its way. I started small with just a few lines, then expanded. I found that punctuation and short sentences (sometimes one word) were key in helping to establish varying points of view. I don’t think I nailed the emotion completely, but here’s my first attempt (after much revision) at a reverso:
Please leave your link below!
Imagine the Possibilities 
Yes, that is a VERY hard form, Rose — but your draft looks great. I love the contrast between the fall and summer colors.
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Thanks, Anastasia!
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Excellence on your page!
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Thanks, Joyce!
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Great job with your first try at a reverso — definitely a challenging form! Especially like the food references (of course!). Thanks for hosting this week. 🙂
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Thanks, Jama. Check your link on Mr. Linky. I couldn’t get to your post.
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It will go live at 6 a. m. Friday.
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Rats! My first comment evaporated…I know I typed, well done! A reverso is so much fun but not easy. A season switch is perfect for a back-and-forth read. I do like how you inserted, “And don’t think.” That’s a tough phrase to work both directions. Great job!
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Thanks, Linda!
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What a fun reverso you created Rose, you definitely have different pov in your poem. Thanks for hosting the roundup, and Happy Fall!
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Thanks! Happy Fall to you, too!
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Such a fantastic reverso! Huzzah, huzzah! Thanks for rounding us up this week!
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Thanks, Mary Lee!
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Wow – great job, Rose. That’s a form I haven’t attempted, but I do love to read the poems! (Your “I’m not craving” lines are especially cleverly done… ) Fall is my favorite season for sure, so that appropriately lands me on the left – ha! Thanks for sharing and thanks for hosting.
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Happy Fall!
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Just fabulous! I am kinda scared of these and love what you have done here. Thank you for sharing your notes – the idea of making those two lists is really helpful. And one word lines. (I love fall too!) Thank you for hosting, and here’s to cider and bonfires! xo, a.
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Thanks, Amy! And pumpkin doughnuts to go with the cider!
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Rose this is excellent. I have tried many times to write a reverso, but always failed miserably. You may y have inspired me to have another go. Thanks for hosting.
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Thanks! Once I got started it was actually fun – like solving a puzzle.
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Hi Rose:
That is a lovely entry and poem. You’re going to think I’m being obseqious, however, I read the poem first and thought you used one of Marilyn Singer’s ones until I saw it was YOU who wrote it. 🙂 Well done! Left my blog post in the link. Hope you read it and others do as well.
My best,
Charles
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Thanks for stopping by, Charles. And for the compliment.
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Welcome autumn! Reversos are tough, so well done on the challenge, Rose – and thanks so much for hosting!
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Thanks, Matt! Looking forward to holding your book in my hands!
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Here’s to you, brave poet, Rose. Reverso poems are most intriguing, but equally they present as quite a challenge. You have been kind enough to outline your process and provide some important tips. You capture the sense of the season most pleasingly. Thank you also for hosting, Rose.
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Thanks, Alan.
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Good job, Rose! I agree with you about fall. Thanks for hosting!
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Thanks and Yes! Fall is the best!
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They are challenging, Rose. What a great job you did writing yours. I especially love the way you used “and don’t think”, very clever! Thanks for hosting!
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Thanks, Linda!
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Rose, well done! I have never written a successful reverso, though I’ve tried a few times. You have given me renewed interest and motivation as you share your process and Marilyn’s link. I can see possibilities. I love “And don’t think / I’m not craving the smell of pumpkin spice” and its reverse–It’s magically done. Thanks for hosting today.
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Thanks, Denise. Yes, do give it a go. It was actually fun once I got over the fear of starting!
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Rose, Thanks for hosting. I think you did a great job. I’ve never tried to write a reverso but maybe I will now. It does seem difficult. I will look at the link you shared. I love how you shared your metacognition during the writing. I love fall too!
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Thanks so much!
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I really love how you utilized punctuation to master this reverso!
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Thanks, Marcie!
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I have tried this form, Rose, and it’s very difficult! I love what you did with yours. And I enjoy seeing you over at Courage to Create!
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Thanks, Mary! I’ll look for you at CtC.
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Rose, I have so much admiration for this reverso. SO HARD to pull off, and voila, you’ve done it!! I’m also in love with the name of your poetry group. Thank you for hosting! xo
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Thanks so much, Irene!
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Rose, I think reverso poems are the hardest form to write (next to sonnets). Marilyn sent me the tips when I was working on reversos with my students. It’s still hard. You did a wonderful job creating two different views with the use of punctuation. I love fall, but around here we worry a lot about hurricanes. Praying for those on the east coast in Lee’s path. Thanks for hosting.
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Oh, I hope you get through hurricane season unscathed.
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Rose, I love the subtlety between the two versions. Team Fall, for sure!
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Bravo, Rose! I love it. Not only very clever, but it also demonstrates how punctuation can make a huge difference in meaning. I may have to give it a go! Thank you for the inspiration!
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This is great, Rose! I tried a reverso once. Once. I think those contrasting viewpoints are key.
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Rose, I also like the contrasting voices in your poem. It is great that you tackled this difficult poetic format. I am trying out the boketto poem today.
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Yes! I’d like to give that one a go.
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Wow, this form does seem challenging to consider but you make it look easy! Very clever the two points of view here. Fall is a great topic to choose since there are different views, a plus and a minus to the season and you found the right detail with the color and the smell of fall.
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Thanks, Janice.
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I love fall, and I love your poem! As others have said, reverses are tough. You did a great job with an amazing poem!
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Thanks so much, Linda.
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Everyone has said so–the reverso is a hard form to pull off, and the contrasting points of view are the point! So yes, you succeeded impressively. Thanks for hosting us!
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I appreciate your thoughts, Heidi.
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Rose, this is great! Reversos are SO hard to write. I’m not sure I’ve ever successfully done so, and definitely not with the two points of view neatly captured. I love how deftly you used punctuation to alter meaning. Well done! Thanks for sharing your process and tips and for hosting this week. PS I’m a big fan of fall, too!
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Thanks, and yes to all things pumpkin!
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