A Palindromic Poem
in 4 Versions
by R.E. Slater
I thought to try writing a short palindromic poem by reversing sequenced lines between two ordered stanzas. The story begins by at first moving forward then retraces its themes in reverse order:Anna's gig → prohibition → crowd's gladness → audience → music → happiness.
Happiness → music → audience → crowd’s gladness → prohibition → Anna’s gig.
It was a flash experiment to demonstrate the ease of creating poetry in this manner along with showing the difficulty of turning a poem into a thoughtful piece. (In this later effort I judge myself to have failed.)
What was the point to this exercise? To challenge the reader to try this style on their own. It can be both fun and challenging.
- re slater
A Series of Trial Poems
by R.E. Slater
Original
Anna had a gig in Soho each night.
Anna had a gig in Soho each night.
She struggled with her fear to go.
Those who came to listen were glad -
Her music enchanted their souls.
Every night Anna played her music;
It made her happy to sing.
Singing made Anna happy.
She played her music every night;
Many were enchanted by her music.
They were glad to listen when coming -
Going, Anna struggled with her fear.
Every night in Soho was Anna's gig.
Edited
Anna had a gig in Soho each night.
She struggled with her fear to go.
Those who came to listen were glad -
Her music enchanted their souls.
Every night Anna played her music;
It made her happy to sing.
Singing made Anna happy.
She played her music every night;
Her music enchanted their souls.
Those who came to listen were glad -
When going, she struggled with fear.
In Soho each night was Anna’s gig.
Tightened (a line for line symmetry)
Anna had a gig in Soho each night.
She struggled with her fear to go.
Those who came to listen were glad -
Her music enchanted their souls.
Every night Anna played her music;
It made her happy to sing.
It made her happy to sing.
Every night Anna played her music;
Her music enchanted their souls.
Those who came to listen were glad -
She struggled with her fear to go.
Anna had a gig in Soho each night.
Loosened (an echoing symmetry)
Anna had a gig in Soho each night.
She struggled with her fear to go.
Those who came to listen were glad -
Her music enchanted their souls.
Every night Anna played her music;
It made her happy to sing.
Singing made Anna happy.
She played her music every night;
Many were enchanted by her music,
Many were glad to listen when coming -
Going, Anna struggled with her fear.
Yet in Soho each night was Anna’s gig.
Haiku 1 - Anna’s Music
Anna sings every night,
Her fear challenged her singing,
The crowds gladly listen.
Haiku 2 - The Mirrored Version
The crowds gladly listen,
Though her fear says, “No, don't” -
Anna sings every night.
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