Here's the concept: write a poem, or a story in a poem, that's reversible. That means the lines form a poem reading down AND up.
Here's an example from the instigator of this madness herself:
Reading down:
For love,
how you look
is
what matters most.
Let's be honest.
You can smile
or
grimace,
flirt or
frown.
It makes no difference.
You might believe
love
welcomes
an open heart.
But the end
of the story
can be told
much
sooner.
Look
at the face:
beauty
has a chance at
everything.
Reading up:
Everything
has a chance at
beauty.
At the face,
look
sooner.
Much
can be told
of the story
but the end.
An open heart
welcomes
love.
You might believe
it makes no difference:
frown,
flirt, or
grimace.
Or
you can smile.
Let's be honest.
What matters most
is
how you look
for love.
Another example is the title of this post:
Gotcha knickers twisted, yo?
Yo! Twisted knickers gotcha?
(notice that punctuation will help you a lot!)
And just to make things LOTS of fun, it's fewer maximum words this time: 60.
(That evil cackle you hear is me)
Contest opens Friday 12/16 at Noon and runs through Sunday 12/18 at noon. (I figure you might need some extra time for this one!)
60 words max (fewer is fine) arranged in lines that form a poem reading both up and down.
Only one word prompt this time: candy (aren't you glad it wasn't knickers? or twisted?!)
Post your entry in the comment column on this post.
Your entry should have two parts:, once for how it reads down and once for how it reads up.
If you need a mulligan, delete your entry and post again.
Questions? Best way to get answers is to send me a tweet @janet_reid
Ready?
Set?
Too late! Contest closed at noon on Sunday! Now, to the most fun of all--reading the entries!
53 comments:
Brittle and broken,
You hide, soft
underneath your hard candy shell
Listen. You’re next.
Don’t criticize, because
Most people do
criticize…themselves
Criticize themselves
Most people do.
Don’t criticize, because
listen—you’re next.
Underneath your hard candy shell
You hide--soft,
brittle and broken
Wow. That's incredible! I love both those poems but have no idea if I could do it. Definitely a challenge, and unforunately, I don't have the time to tackle it right now.
I must do something
with my selfish life.
Redemption works best.
Give back candy stolen.
Repair damage caused.
Ease the pain inflicted.
A life lived selfishly—
it’s not worth it.
It’s not worth it—
a life lived selfishly.
Ease the pain inflicted.
Repair damage caused.
Give back candy stolen.
Redemption works best
with my selfish life.
I must do something.
For a moment
It frees you,
Curiosity.
What’s behind the door?
You can know
If you look.
It could be a dream, like candy to your sleep.
It could be a nightmare; the things that make you weep.
The choice is yours.
You can’t close what you’ve opened
I know.
See, on this side of the door,
I’m already haunted.
I’m already haunted.
See, on this side of the door
I know
You can’t close what you’ve opened.
The choice is yours.
It could be a nightmare; the things that make you weep
It could be a dream; like candy to your sleep.
If you look,
You can know
What’s behind the door.
Curiosity.
It frees you,
For a moment.
Sweet candy swirls
Around and around,
Flowing ‘round the pole.
Still gleaming and sticky.
Weeping
Sugar candy. The
Scent of
Candy is so easily blown away. The
Fragile confection
Is
A child’s bright dream
Spun all-too-fine.
Who watches candy twirl?
Candy is too delicate
To endure
Such hard scrutiny.
Watching shatters this sweet fantasy.
Wait for candy to finish.
“Wait for Candy to finish.”
Watching shatters this sweet fantasy.
Such hard scrutiny
To endure -
Candy is too delicate.
Who watches Candy twirl,
Spun all-too-fine?
A child’s bright dream
Is
Fragile, confection:
Candy is so easily blown away. The
Scent of
Sugar-Candy. The
Weeping.
Still... gleaming and sticky
Flowing ‘round the pole
Around and around
Sweet Candy swirls.
Down:
That’s so dysfunctional,
But I’m still holding on
To candy
Crumbling
Like the chalk
That I used when tracing my dreams
On napkins under your shot glass.
You keep your answers.
It’s all lackluster now.
But in the condensation of your latest drink
There are sparkles.
I must get out alive:
This is functional thinking
Up:
This is functional thinking:
I must get out alive.
There are sparkles
But in the condensation of your latest drink
It’s all lackluster now.
You keep your answers
On napkins under your shot glass
That I used when tracing my dreams
Like the chalk
Crumbling
To candy.
But I’m still holding on.
That’s so dysfunctional.
(PS. I should never write things while my mother is reading excerpts from her codependancy therapy books. It does stuff like this to my brain.)
Here's my entry. It's called Desire.
There are too many words on my tongue
as your mouth shivers against mine –
love is sticky here,
pleasures eaten like candy,
fingers searching for another taste.
You are my perfect indulgence,
my best desire,
passion on its knees –
do not hesitate,
do not wait –
give me my sin, again.
-----------------------------
Give me my sin again –
do not wait,
do not hesitate.
Passion on its knees,
my best desire:
you are my perfect indulgence.
Fingers searching for another taste,
pleasures eaten like candy,
love is sticky, here
as your mouth shivers again mine –
there are too many words on my tongue.
Meh, not my best work and it's over 60 words, but what the hell, it was still fun.
Forward:
To raise him up right
You get just one chance
A promise, but finite
From sweet boy to fine man
At the moment he's born
You look down in your arms
As night brightens to morn
Besotted by his charms
You hope but you fear
Are you up to this job?
A new life is here
His name will be Rob
Back:
His name will be Rob
A new life is here
Are you up to this job?
You hope but you fear
Besotted by his charms
As night brightens to morn
You look down in your arms
At the moment he's born
From sweet boy to fine man
A promise though finite
You get just one chance
To raise him up right
I give up
Backwards and forwards?
60 words or less
Seriously?
What do you expect?
A masterpiece?
I think not
And then candy?
Rhetorical questions, perhaps
This must be
Some kind of a bad joke
Some kind of a bad joke
This must be
Rhetorical questions, perhaps
And then candy?
I think not
A masterpiece?
What do you expect?
Seriously?
60 words or less
Backwards and forwards?
I give up
If I could
keep you little forever,
I would,
my darling child.
Sticky fingers,
goofy grins,
candy-
like
kisses.
Little hands
holding
mine.
You are
here with me,
for now.
For now,
here with me,
you are
mine.
Holding
little hands,
kisses
like
candy,
goofy grins,
sticky fingers.
My darling child,
I would
keep you little forever
if I could.
Down
Hobo Tom bums
a ride,
a smoke,
a buck,
some gum.
Hobo Tom runs
the streets,
the mall,
game on
Candy.
Hobo Tom sells
bottles,
booze,
rolls, and
rock.
Me and
Hobo Tom.
Up
Hobo Tom,
me, and
Rock.
Rolls and
booze?
Bottles?
Hobo Tom sells
Candy.
Game on.
The mall,
the streets,
Hobo Tom runs.
Some gum?
A buck.
A smoke?
A ride.
Hobo Tom?
Bums.
Bittersweet
How you haunt me in the morning...
When I realize
dreams
melted
like
hot candy—
sweet, sticky, bitter, nasty—
and it doesn't even matter.
Nothing's real anyway.
I might as well stay here
inside this bittersweet, melted candy dream with you.
It's all a journey from nothing into nothing.
I'll rest here.
My wings are too tattered to go on.
Bittersweet (the remix)
My wings are too tattered to go on.
I'll rest here.
It's all a journey from nothing into nothing
inside this bittersweet, melted candy dream with you.
I might as well stay here.
Nothing's real anyway,
And it doesn't even matter.
Sweet, sticky, bitter, nasty
hot candy—
like
melted
dreams
when I realize
how you haunt me in the morning.
Candy!
I can eat many sweet treats
sticky, hard, soft, chewy,
nuts,
nougat,
caramel.
I get woozy.
Chocolate!
It is good,
package, box, or dish.
Strawberry, raspberry
fillings gooey.
Yummy, yummy,
good says tummy.
Quick Snacks!
M & M's
Jelly beans
Snickers
Mars
Bars.
These are my favorite things....
Things favorite are these...
Bars
Mars
Snickers
Beans Jelly
M's & M.
Snacks Quick!
Tummy says good,
yummy, yummy.
Gooey fillings
raspberry,
strawberry.
Dish or box, package,
good is it.
Chocolate!
Woozy I get.
Caramel,
nougat,
nuts.
Chewy, soft, hard, sticky,
treats sweet
many eat can I.
Candy!
Okay, so the second last sentence is iffy, but heck, I had fun! And now I want candy!
Reading down:
The lid creaks
on rusted hinges.
I lay
in the dark.
With squinted eyes,
I bid aloha
to the sun.
Six feet down,
the air is cold.
Above,
you stand.
Your voice
not
a stranger to my ears. The sound
from
your lips like candy
to my soul. Drawn to
not
feel
fear. For you, I
tremble in
love.
Reading up:
Love -
tremble in
fear. For you, I
feel
not.
To my soul, drawn to
your lips like candy
from
a stranger. To my ears, the sound -
not
your voice.
You stand
above,
The air is cold
six feet down.
To the sun,
I bid aloha
with squinted eyes.
In the dark,
I lay
on rusted hinges.
The lid creaks.
Reading Down:
Betrayal,
Blistering, biting, choking,
Fill Hearts.
Words sweet as candy
But reveal nothing
As her eyes say all.
She is angel and demon
Fight for
Sword and Champion!
The dawn breaks:
As she draws breath,
The Earth Stills.
He will know
Her love, like blood
Renews and Imprisons
Courage most fair:
Time makes myths of us all.
Reading Up:
Time makes myths of us all.
Courage most fair
Renews and imprisons.
Her love, like blood.
He will know:
The Earth stills
As she draws breath.
The dawn breaks.
Sword and Champion
Fight! For
She is angel (and demon)
As her eyes say all...
But reveal nothing.
Words sweet as candy
Fill hearts.
Blistering, biting, choking
Betrayal.
"Gentleness?
Love?" he said.
"Kindness?
What are these things?"
He'd placed wilted petals
in my palm.
"Flowers,"
he'd said.
"Beauty.
You will find
trust."
Dare I
believe him?
Should I?
Candy-sweet
words--emptiness.
Vacant,
smoldering smiles.
It started and ended with
lies.
Lies?
It started and ended with
smoldering smiles.
Vacant
words. Emptiness,
candy-sweet.
Should I
believe him,
dare I
trust,
"You will find
beauty,"
he'd said.
"Flowers."
In my palm,
he'd placed wilted petals.
What are these things?
"Kindness.
Love," he said.
Gentleness.
UP
How did this happen
Feeling for my bet friend
I tell him everything
He's seen me laugh, cry and fart
now I want him like a kid wants candy
I can't imagine things ever being normal
one look, one silly grin
I know I'll blush and give my secret crush away
DOWN
I know I'll blush and give my secret crush away
one look, one silly grin
I can't imagine things ever being normal
Now I want him like a kid wants candy
he's seen me laugh, cry and fart
I tell him everything
Feelings for my best friend
How did this happen
Homage to Dorothy Parker
Chocolate is love,
smooth and delicious,
but
Liquor is seduction,
dark and malicious.
Dark and malicious,
liquor is seduction,
but
smooth and delicious,
Chocolate is love.
Her Name was Candy
You realized
How alone you were,
Passing by
All the pretty girls
And another one--
You lifted your glass to her.
To make a real connection,
You took a chance.
She liked you and
Her name was Candy.
. . .
Her name was Candy.
She liked you and
You took a chance
To make a real connection.
You lifted your glass to her,
And another one.
All the pretty girls
Passing by . . .
How alone you were,
You realized.
"No," said mother.
"Although mountain candy rocks big time,
Climb high then crash,
Regret will you drink."
Adult version:
Drink, you will regret.
Crash then high.
Climb time Big Rocks Candy mountain
Although mother said no.
Broken heart lost,
After mending,
I was wandering,
Found kisses with love’s candy.
Candy loves with kisses, Found.
Wandering was I,
Mending after,
Lost heart broken.
I Want Candy! A Palindromic Ode.
Top to Bottom, Left to Right
Desserts I stressed
Mom . . .
Won tons? Not now
Mom . . .
No lemons no melon
Mom . . .
Now I won
Bottom to Top, Right to Left
Now I won
. . . Mom
No lemons no melon
. . . Mom
Won tons? Not now
. . . Mom
Desserts I stressed
SWEET LOVER
Sweet.
Echo of silence. My
hit.
My fix. Anticipating what’s to
come.
Burning for you to
be.
Skin stroking skin, and I’ll
breathe.
Together vital, together
more.
I keep wanting...
I keep pushing...
I keep screaming...
And yet–
Rapt with guilt. Wretched.
Unrest.
Soft you’ll break on my tongue again.
Candy.
Sweet reason why all reason flees me.
LOVER SWEET
Sweet reason why all reason flees me.
Candy.
Soft you’ll break on my tongue again.
Unrest.
Rapt with guilt. Wretched.
And yet–
I keep screaming...
I keep pushing...
I keep wanting...
more.
Together vital, together
breathe.
Skin stroking skin, and I’ll
be.
Burning for you to
come.
My fix. Anticipating what’s to
hit.
Echo of silence. My
Sweet.
Mystery.
You were one
with the way you walked away
and laughed,
hands waving
with over exaggeration.
I called your name
to fill my craving
as a request
for something sweet.
You bitch Candy.
Candy, you bitch.
For something sweet,
as a request
to fill my craving
I called your name
with over exaggeration,
hands waving.
And laughed.
With the way you walked away,
you were one
mystery.
Your name is no longer safe in my mouth.
Treacherous candy I could have done without.
Sweeter than any lie told in the dark:
Your song left no room for doubt.
REVERSED
Your song left no room for doubt.
Sweeter than any lie told in the dark:
Treacherous candy I could have done without.
Your name is no longer safe in my mouth.
Can't stop myself,
Holidays.
Ever so happy
on the
Bathroom scale.
Do I
need this candy?
I don't.
but
it's true.
I will have some more.
I will have some more.
it's true
but
I don't
need this candy
do I,
Bathroom scale?
On the
ever so happy
Holidays,
can't stop myself
This is Just To Say
Like the icebox plums of Carlos Williams Carlos
Sweet Books
Candy of the mind
I'll have them, I will
Until I die- afterwards too.
Everyday, Everywhere
I'll read
No matter what
No matter what
I'll read
Everyday, Everywhere
Until I die- afterwards too
I'll have them
Candy of the mind
Sweet Books
Like the icebox plums of Carlos Williams Carlos
This is Just To Say
Candy,
relationships are complicated.
I don't know
what makes me happy,
but if you're wondering –
you're important to me.
Even though,
when I wake up,
I may not want to see you, just
remember:
when you're head's lost
between my legs,
it's heaven.
OlOlO
It's heaven,
between my legs.
When you're head's lost
just remember:
I may not want to see you
when I wake up,
even though
you're important to me.
But if you're wondering
what makes me happy,
I don't know.
Relationships are complicated,
- Candy
Guilty pleasure.
One… just taste one. Please?
Forbidden.
You have… can’t I?
But, is that everything?
I want sugar.
Sweet and sinful temptation.
I love honey.
Candy! Oh!
* * * * *
Oh, Candy!
Honey, I love
temptation, sinful and sweet.
Sugar, I want
everything that is.
But, I can’t have you.
Forbidden.
Please… one taste, just one
pleasure.
Guilty.
His words, like spun peppermint,
clear the clouds,
distance no wound.
Tight sugarcanes twist
whispers on fast kisses,
chocolate sweet with evening storms.
Bitter the weather, black licorice,
his temper.
Temper his licorice black,
weather the bitter storms,
evening with sweet chocolate kisses.
Fast on whispers!
Twist sugarcanes tight-wound.
No distance
clouds the clear peppermint,
spun like words,
His.
(Down)
candies are memories
sweetness of lands
Turkey, Jordan, Belgium
pastel, soft, moldable
savored then digested
(Up)
savored then digested
pastel, soft, moldable
Turkey, Jordan, Belgium
sweetness of lands
candies are memories
(Backward Down)
Memories are candies,
lands of sweetness
Belgium, Jordan, Turkey
moldable, soft, pastel
digested, then savored
As nourishment for my soul
I had reached for you.
But
Like a piece of candy,
A momentary pleasure,
You melted on my tongue.
You melted on my tongue
—a momentary pleasure
like a piece of candy—
But
I had reached for you
As nourishment for my soul.
Candy was her name,
At least the last time.
When we spoke
She said she might
Return again
Someday,
Though Candy
Might not be her name.
Sweet and colorful,
A vast number of names
She has.
I do not know them all.
Candy comes to visit me,
Though I seldom know her name.
Though I seldom know her name,
Candy comes to visit me.
I do not know them all,
She has
A vast number of names.
Sweet and colorful
Might not be her name,
Though Candy,
Someday,
Return again
She said she might
When we spoke.
At least the last time,
Candy was her name.
Hello Christmas.
Gum drop tears fall into pieces of bittersweet chocolate memories,
while my candy cane heart twists and breaks.
Burnt gingerbread men smile,
melting my foil-wrapped soul.
Sour lemon-drop envy,
sticky, sugar-coated despair
are
all I have left to devour.
*****************************
All I have left to devour
are
sticky, sugar-coated despair,
sour lemon-drop envy.
Melting my foil-wrapped soul,
burnt gingerbread men smile.
While my candy cane heart twists and breaks,
gum drop tears fall into pieces of bittersweet chocolate memories.
Hello Christmas.
Mirrored Psalm Song
I've seen snowdrifts
more loyal than some
I've known. As a gift,
I'll leave them with one
piece of candy.
Your bibles are written
by and for the muses
that reside, yet are hidden
in your heads. (These are your excuses.)
In your heads, these are your excuses
that reside, yet are hidden
by and for the muses.
Your bibles are written.
Piece of candy?
I'll leave them with one
I've known as a gift
more loyal than some.
I've seen snowdrifts.
In an instant,
with a glance,
pulses race.
Lips meet.
Together
on fire,
burning,
again,
again.
New.
Different.
Like a piece of hard candy,
sticky
sweet.
Still
until the melody fades, but
pillows cool.
The bed
sighs under
the weight of years.
The weight of years
sighs under
the bed
pillows. Cool
until the melody fades, but
still
sweet.
Sticky,
like a piece of hard candy.
Different.
New
again,
again
burning.
On fire
together.
Lips meet.
Pulses race
with a glance,
in an instant.
TOP TO BOTTOM:
In the candy shop
Where children are going wild
The tastes, the scents, the happiness
Love of the candy shop
Peppermint sticks
Chocolate galore
Sour and sweet, you just can’t ignore
Love of the candy shop
The candy shop, shop!
What a treat for your sweet tooth!
At the candy shop, shop!
BOTTOM TO TOP:
At the candy shop, shop,
What a treat for your sweet tooth!
The candy shop, shop!
Love of the candy shop..
Sour and sweet, you just can’t ignore
Chocolate galore!
Peppermint sticks
Love of the candy shop!
The tastes, the scents, the happiness
Where children are going wild
In the candy shop!
"hard candy
sucks,"
the child
said;
his father
disapproving.
disapproving,
his father
said,
"the child
sucks
hard candy!"
Love is like candy:
Sweet
Then
Sour.
Alone,
You stand
Until another comes.
Hope lives,
Leaving forever-marks.
Time moves.
Hearts morph.
Love withers.
Sweet
Then
Sour,
Love is like candy.
-------
Love is like candy:
Sour
Then
Sweet.
Love withers.
Hearts morph.
Time moves,
Leaving forever-marks.
Hope lives.
Until another comes,
You stand
Alone.
Sour
Then
Sweet,
Love is like candy.
Candy
Opening wrapper
Squeeing!
Could it be?
Gum drops?
Popcorn?
Lollipops?
Layers of chocolate
Candy
Candy Canes
Sorry no taffy for me.
Oh yes I can catch the Gingerbread man
Oh yes I can catch the Gingerbread Man
Sorry no taffy for me.
Candy Canes.
Candy
Layers of chocolate
Lollipops?
Popcorn?
Gumdrops?
Could it be?
Squeeing!
Opening wrapper
Candy
My dog ate
What was meant for me:
Hard swirls of peppermint candy.
Empty wrappers crackle underfoot.
Rainbow drool
On white carpet.
Standing before me,
Ears down and tail tucked,
He looks guilty, even remorseful.
I know he’ll do it again--
This isn’t his first offense.
On the plus side,
His breath smells awesome.
His breath smells awesome
(On the plus side).
This isn’t his first offense--
I know he’ll do it again.
He looks guilty, even remorseful,
Ears down and tail tucked,
Standing before me.
On white carpet,
Rainbow drool.
Empty wrappers crackle underfoot.
Hard swirls of peppermint candy:
What was meant for me,
My dog ate.
Every day goes faster
as I tunnel through my rut.
Years and minutes fly.
Like daydreams and candy floss,
delicate things crumple
when you touch them.
Hope was only another dream.
Now I plod steadily forward,
but
I flew towards dreams once.
*************
I flew towards dreams once,
but
now I plod steadily forward.
Hope was only another dream.
When you touch them,
delicate things crumple
like daydreams and candy floss.
Years and minutes fly
as I tunnel through my rut.
Every day goes faster.
Occupy This
Victory is sweet
and
you will win
in the end,
but
it won’t be quick, or easy.
Pacifism works
but
sometimes it hurts.
Did
Gandhi
like
the beatings?
Take
some pride?
Feel
justified?
Is your revolution
really necessary?
“What else is?”
You may ask.
My father used to say,
“Liquor is quicker
though
candy is dandy.”
“Candy is dandy
though
liquor is quicker.”
My father used to say.
You may ask,
“What else is
really necessary?”
Is your revolution
justified?
Feel
some pride.
Take
the beatings
like
Gandhi
did.
Sometimes it hurts
but
pacifism works.
It won’t be quick, or easy
but
in the end
you will win.
And
victory is sweet
My brain can’t go there,
in places of confusion,
in crowds of want.
What is it?
Words and phrases of cleverness you desire?
No it’s brilliance,
like a star,
like a promise to mankind.
He came, he died,
he rose.
In this time of miracles,
now, I need one.
Now, I need one,
in this a time of miracles.
He rose.
He came, he died.
Like a promise to mankind,
like a star,
no, it’s brilliance.
Words and phrases of cleverness you desire.
What is it?
In crowds of want,
in places of confusion,
my brain can’t go there.
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