Day 5, March’s Open Write with Katrina Morison
Katrina teaches Pre AP English II and English IV in Skiatook, Oklahoma. She has taught in six counties in Oklahoma and in the US Virgin Islands. She seeks to be welcoming and responsive in her professional and personal life. During the pandemic, Katrina has learned that her professional learning community is not limited by the walls of the school in which she teaches.
Inspiration
Marwa Helal writes, “I believe words and images have great power in shaping worldviews, and I want my contribution to be positive and truthful” (http://marshelal.com/).
“Born in Al Mansurah, Egypt, Helal currently lives and teaches in Brooklyn, New York. She received her MFA in creative nonfiction from The New School and her BA in journalism and international studies from Ohio Wesleyan University” (http://anmly.org/ap25/marwa-helal/).
Helal describes her purpose in writing as “Wanting to bear witness to the experience my family went through in immigrating, wanting to find others who had similar experiences, wanting to highlight the flaws in the ‘legal’ immigration system—a conversation this country doesn’t want to have—they would rather focus on what they deem ‘illegal’ immigration when in fact they are the ones who are illegal, if anyone is. I didn’t know at the time that Homeland Security would become ICE, and ICE would become children in cages by the time the book was out. My story is just a small snapshot of the systemic abuse inherent in the immigration-industrial complex” (https://www.pw.org/content/poetic_lenses_our_fifteenth_annual_look_at_debut_poetry?article_page=3).
I discovered Helal through the daily email I receive from poem-a-day. I highly recommend signing up at https://poets.org/poem-a-day. When I read Helal’s poem “WHO REAL?”, I knew it was something I had to share with my students. Then I discovered “POEM TO BE READ FROM RIGHT TO LEFT.”
POEM TO BE READ FROM RIGHT TO LEFT
by Marwa Helal
language first my learned i
second
see see
for mistaken am i native
go i everywhere
*moon and sun to
ل letter the like
lamb like sound
fox like think but
recurring this of me reminds
chased being dream
circle a in
duck duck like
goose
no were there but
children other
of tired got i
number the counting
words english of
to takes it
in 1 capture
another
//
*شمسية و قمرية
“’poem to be read from right to left” is written in a form created by the poet called The Arabic.
The Arabic is a form that includes an Arabic letter with an Arabic footnote, and an Arabic numeral, preferably written right to left as the Arabic language is, and vehemently rejects you if you try to read it left to right. To vehemently reject, in this case, means to transfer the feeling of every time the poet has heard an English as Only Language speaker patronizingly utter in some variation the following phrase: “Oh, [so-and-so] is English as a Second Language…’ As if it was a kind of weakness, nah” (http://www.wintertangerine.com/helal-poem-to-be-read).
Katrina’s poem
I took a letter I wrote but never mailed to President Joe Biden and turned it into a right to left poem.
Biden Joe for demands of list My
himself surround to him for expect I
counselors wise with
and him, to truth the speak who
fire not will he that expect I
those malign baselessly or
him with disagree who
briefings daily to attend to him expect I
matters on speed to up stay and
country our affect that
world. the of rest the and
protocols follow to him expect I
communication. for
media social use not better had he God, By
communication. of mode primary his as
transparent as be to him expect I
be. to him allows President of Office the as
responsible fiscally be should He
ours, with and money own his with
taxes. pay should he and
chief, in Commander the As
peacemaker. a be to him expect I
twice think should he However,
anyone maligning before
military. the in served has or serves who
wreath he places he When
Soldier, Unknown the of Tomb the on
respect humble and genuine reflect should it
veterans. all for
inclusivity and diversity embrace to him expect I
intolerance. of forms all eschew to and
guidance. divine seeks and prays he if it like would I
plus. a be would mass Attending
Lady First the embrace to continue to him expect I
often and public in
interact to never but
women other with inappropriately
(matter that for anyone, or)
own. his above needs our put to him expect I
war to went we If
attack terrorist a experienced or
pandemic another endured or
one, this like
mind his on thing last the
rating. approval his be better had
planet our for out look to him expect I
so. do to lines national and party cross and
but me, in teacher the is it Maybe
widely, read to him expect I
rigorously, study to him expect I
facts. the balance to him expect I and
luminaries. of words the recite to him expect I
Constitution the know to him expect I
left to right
right to left
family. about talk to him expect I
catch play he rather would I
dog his with
House White the of lawn the on
resort. posh a at golf play than
seriously job his take to him expect I
seriously. too himself take not but
shows enjoy to him expect I
show. the BE to not but
please he could Finally,
sports and music like
do? we like them about talk and
kind. be and cry and laugh to him expect I
expect? to much too this Is
A student’s poem
I introduced Marwa Helal’s poem “poem to be read from right to left” to my students and asked them to write a “Backwards” poem. Here is what I received from one student
nights Most
.dream this have I
.night every It have usually I
,hole black a into falling about dream I
.ends never it
falling and falling keep I
up wake I until
,sweating and scared
,anxiety and stress means it knowing
.all have I which
Process
If you are fluent in Arabic, you may strive to follow the Arabic form to the letter. However, the challenge for most of us will be to write a poem from right to left. (Even in typing the instructions here, my brain defaulted to left to right). It is more challenging than you may think. Make the shape of the poem work for you. You could even use rhyme and rhythm for an extra challenge. Play with capitalization and punctuation.
Now to theme, try to take on change. Deal with something that is or needs to be turned around. Then, the form will truly reflect the content of the poem. Enjoy!
Your Turn to Write & Respond
Now, scroll to the comment section below to write your own poem. (This is a public space, so you may use only your first name or initials depending on your privacy preferences.) Not ready? That’s okay. Read the poems already posted for more inspiration. Ponder your own throughout the day. Return later. And, if the prompt does not work for you, that is fine. All writing is welcome. Just write something. Also, please be sure to respond to at least three writers. See the image for commenting with care. Oh, and a note about drafting: Since we are writing in short bursts, we all understand (and even welcome) the typos and partial poems that remind us we are human and that writing is always becoming.
Grets
That’s five poems already? What a great time. Thanks for the invitations each day!
Piano Practice:
ago year one piano playing started I
language new a learning like is notes the reading
to messages sends brain my
pruned it itself of parts
ago decades
instructs teacher patient my
review to me
again Bells Jingle
:right just transition this get never can I
a – in – ride – to is – it – fun – what – Oh
4 X finger second 5 X finger third :hand Right
beats 4 hold finger fifth beats 4 hold finger first :hand Left
backwards it practice to me told she
awhile for
now doing I’m that’s so
I love the crossover between poetry and music. Both play with tempo, phrasing, and tone. What a perfect subject for a backwards poem. Nicely done!
Rachelle,
What a perfect topic for today’s poem. i’ve learned some things from your poem. 1) That you aren’t afraid to rejuvenate those trimmed parts and learn something new! 2) That playing something backwards would help you in piano playing. What? (I don’t play, so I had no idea!) I’m sure when you saw the prompt you thought of this topic, perfectly planned for your backwards piano practice.
I like what you did with your left and right hands there.
Oh my dear Rachelle! I love that you are returning to piano and that your backward practice came to mind with this prompt: what a perfect combination!
THIS!: to messages sends brain my
pruned it itself of parts
ago decades.
I, too, sometimes practice from the end of a piece! Let’s duet some day!
Thank you, Katrina, for offering this prompt today. Your unique prompt got me going tonight! I had written a poem about trying to land a vaccine appointment, but after my post, I found myself itching to write something else.
Silence is Learned
By: Emily Yamasaki
screaming am I
sound no there’s but
mouth my covers hand a
cries my stifle to
it slice you how matter doesn’t
killed women Asian six
murdered dead gone
recognize and down look I
knuckles lumpy, nails bitten
mouth my over hand the
mine is
it slice you how matter doesn’t
killed women Asian six
murdered dead gone
forgotten not but
forgotten never
This is a poignant and incredible poem for today. It reads well either way. I feel the “slice” of pain and shock in this writing.
Emily, thanks for sharing this piece today. It’s timely and important, “doesn’t matter how you slice it” is right. This has been heavy in my heart today.
Oh, Emily…? The title says everything, but you and others are doing powerful unlearning in these distressing times. I’m challenged that I as a white woman need to stop being silent too. Thank you for your raw poem. The repetition of
is strong, and I love that the final two lines end with hope for a safer future.
I send love, prayers, and my hugs your way. I’m sure you know you’re not alone in this suffering. Your poem needed to be written for every soul who mourns today, yesterday, and everyday.
Love you, Emily.
?
Emily, such a beautiful, heartfelt, painful poem capturing the horror of this tragedy; this line, oh it hurts – “knuckles lumpy, nails bitten” – how many people are filled with grief, due to such pathetic hate. Never forgotten, forgotten never.
Vaccine Lottery
By: Emily Yamasaki
refresh
refresh refresh
unavailable
again try I
again again
arrow circle little
hope resembling
despair
Ohhhh, my! I hope it stops spinning soon and opens up for you.
Thank you for another wonderful week of playful poetry! I got a workout!
Do-Un
dominos the topple-un
tape the wind-re
butterfly the on step-un
toothpaste the squeeze-un
thought the think-un
word the say-un
revo trats
Just perfect, Allison! All your un dos and do overs have me a chuckle. The form really works for your ideas. Love it!
Allison, I love the rhythm of this poem. It carries you one step at a time. The stepping on the butterfly line really captured a physical response from me, but the emotional charge of “un-think the thought/un-say the word” was fantastic. How many times have I wished a word would have been unsaid? Love it!
The butterfly line also had me shook. Your vivid imagery is always something I aim to mimic. Un-squeeze the toothpaste.
Allison, my daughter would’ve loved your ending when she was 6! So much fun! I love the idea of “un-think the thought” the most. That’s where all my troubles begin.
!revo trats ot emit yletinifed s’tI
?
Thank you for a wonderful week, poetry friends! As always, I have loved reading and writing and reflecting with you. My days are better with poetry!
Rewind
close a to draws day the as
begins playback the
unfinished left tasks the
unsaid left words the
undone be can’t that actions the
tone my softened have could I
breath a taken have should I
pause to remembered have would I
reverse in day the relive to only if
rewind to only if
Betsy,
I love every word of your poem. It’s filled w/ love and a desire to do the very best your students. ❤️
There is so much to love here, Betsy! Those damn tasks unfinished really spoke to me. But softening the tone really gave me pause. Thank you!
Betsy, this is so moving! I feel this way so often. Beautifully stated! “if only to rewind”…how often I wish for this!
Katrina, you have given me so much to think about! teaser brain another was this! Thank you.
child young a as
rod fishing bamboo a found I
pond a alongside lying
stuck softly mud the in
thought I fishes one how be must this
hook rusty with line the tossed I
water green brown the into
luck for waiting calmly stood
surprise my explain to how
long so eel an was catch my
learned I when that’s perhaps
bobber a be to best it’s
connected on holding
ways invisible small in helping
flow the with going
Maureen,
It is just fascinating to me how reading right to left slows my eyes, my mind and makes me really process each word rather than decoding phrases or chunks at a time. Wild.
I love this line right to left as you realize:
Maureen,
This is the way I like living, too. Someone needs to be the support system. I especially love the last lines:
This is a poem I wrote a few months ago, but somehow it seemed to fit the reversing of the words, since the outcome of my conversation was the opposite of what I expected. Thank you for a fun five days.
conversation
hard be to anticipated is conversation a sometimes
starts even it before
.isn’t it, well, then and
are over fight to prepared were you that topics
.to agreed simply
,stretch a were thought you ideas
suggestion received warmly a than more nothing were
fight a for ready you’re when do you do what
?happen doesn’t just it and
,fight a start and try you do
?moment the of kindness the to acquiesce gently or
hard be to supposed was that conversation a leaving
wasn’t and
amplified emotions leaves
.spiraling thoughts with
expected was resistance where acceptance finding
universe the from gift a is
unfounded was self-doubt our that us reminding gently
“worthy are you” “,this got you’ve” “,believe”
conversation simple a what reminders all
difficult be to supposed was that
wasn’t and
.mind hesitating a for do can
I’m not sure why, but the line “amplified emotions leaves” really speaks to me, reading left to right or right to left. Fascinating how reading right to left brings a different pacing and makes words “pop.” I also really like “wasn’t and”
Very nice poem!
Cara, this is definitely inspired! I like your author’s note at the beginning that gives us some context to the poem. The beginning of the poem sets up such a strong tone, and I was wondering what kind of conversation you were about to take the reader’s on; however, I loved the candidness of this line: “and then, well, it isn’t.” My shoulders, in that moment, relaxed. You conveyed your own emotions and surprise incredibly well through your writing. Plus, I always like reading your writing because I can really hear your voice!
Demands of list My
Administrators School for
to you expect I
assume and me respect
doing I’m what know I
slightly or completely whether
to you expect I
mistakes your acknowledge
on harp just not
think you blunders
made have teachers
staff your show must You
or care you that
pretend to sense enough have
you to world the mean they
you show must you Finally,
their in faith have
people young educate to ability
I am sending a high five from across the country! You’ve said what we all think, feel, and spend so much time fearing or being frustrated by. What a powerful exercise for a brave administrator to ask of their staff, too…can you imagine being given the opportunity to create and submit your lists of demands?! I have so many ideas because of your words!!
This is lovely! “their in faith have” – yes, yes, yes! The enormity of work by teachers these past many months is excruciating and astounding. Respect, please!!
This should be on the refrigerator in the teacher’s lounge, Seana!
Seana,
I’m over here waving my pom-poms for you. Hit ‘em, girl. I had a principal once whom I loved turning the tables on. Boy do I have stories about that guy. I’m over here giggling to myself as I recall the ways I outsmarted that jackass.
Yes, ma’am. We hear you!
Good morning Sis, YESSS! If I didn’t already know, I would think we had the same administrator! SMH
My favorite part is the opening because respecting us and knowing that we know what are doing are the epitome of leadership skills. Where have these skills gone?
Hang in there! 54 more days!
Katrina, thanks so much for this time to think of things we would like to see changed. I have a million to write, but this is my universal response.
Reign Peace
world the in hate vile the all if Imagine
fireflies with alight jars in bottled Were
luminaires like reverently Carried
service memorial solemn a To
mourned or sobbed one no Where
celebrated all Where
hate of death The
afterwards And
bloom would daisies colored Rainbow
spring in fire dandelion Like
queen conquering the, Love
peace with unions bless Would
supreme reign would Wisdom
heal would wounds open And
Edler Barbara
2021 17 March
Yes, Barb! Sign me up! This is beautifully expressed. So many images that I want to put in my pocket:
fireflies in a jar like luminaries that would blot out hate — beautiful; celebrating the death of hate… oh yes; rainbow daisies — what a hopeful image. You’ve created a dream that I want to witness and feel. What a lovely poem! Gorgeous! Thank you. Susie
Barb,
The images here are gorgeous. I love fireflies and the beautiful light they emit. Your poem channels s little John Lennon: Imagine. I am. ❤️
Barb! This is gorgeous! I love the contrasting images in the first lines:
A hate vile or a jar full of fireflies — I vote for luminaries that can come and go from that jar and kiss the wounds needing healing. Gosh, just all the imagery of nature — daises, rainbow. Love this. Feel this.
Sarah
Barb, this was lovely. “Dandelion fire” and “Love, the conquering queen” were some of my favorites. I found myself reading it backward and forward, feeling its tug both ways. Really nice.
Down Slow
By Mo Daley 3-17-21
reminder the for you thank
smell and stop to
hyacinths the
lifetime a spend to
afternoon one book a in
steady and slow
life wins
me remind to
journey the enjoy to
slowly hasten to and
be just and
Mo,
I’m here for this slowing down and flower smelling. I hope Denise sees your poem.
Oh, Mo, I love your beautiful slow down poem, and I am going to sit and read this afternoon! You have inspired me, and thank you, Glenda for thinking of me. I do need this this week. Suleika Jaouad’s memoir, which has been waiting for me on my Kindle, is ready for this afternoon.
Mo,
I started reading left to right and was like…what the… Oh my, it is wild how the brain is trained and how my eyes process phrases rather than slowly pondering each word. Alas, right to left…and I want to smell the hyacinths, too. This poem calls me to slow down, hasten slowly and just be with your words. Thank you!
Sarah
Mo, I love how your message and form reinforce each other: each calling for me to slow down and c o n s i d e r the moment. “Me remind to” was just what I needed!
Wow! What a challenge. I spent the better part of the day letting this one percolate. At one point, while drafting in my notebook, I got so caught up in going backwards that I started spelling backwards too! I’ve had a lot of fun with these prompts, and just want to say thank you to everyone for welcoming me and my words. These five days have been a gift, and my only regret is that I waited so long to join all of you on these poetic journeys!
(I struggled with a title today…so if anyone has an idea, I’d love to hear it!)
not could I ago year One
back looking what imagine
like be might
seemed back Looking
sat I as impossibility an
panic in locked
place in cemented
direction give to compass no
peace me give to direction no
forward see couldn’t I
to ahead thinking so
became back looking
climb couldn’t I mountain a
can I, now but
companion my hindsight
growth my understand to
now restored foresight
revisit helps
possibility
Erin, your backward spelling comment made me chuckle because I wanted to write with my left hand at one point! I love how you used the format to look back on the year- really apropos. The struggle in your poem is perfect, as the poem form itself is a struggle to read. Very well done.
Erin, I really appreciate how you end with the positive. The last year has been an undertaking, and I could immediately relate to the feeling of being “cemented in place.” Great poem!
Erin,
I think folks were caught up in the hope last year would be a brief moment, so looking back felt anathema to our hope. I love the paradox in these lines:
Look, I’m a hillbilly, but being so backwards myself, I struggled. Nevertheless, I persisted after myriad false starts.
Katrina, I love this prompt and will try to do it justice another time. For today, this is what I can do.
This Previously
fancied we Previously
a, beacon a nation Our
a, hill a on City
star shining Bright
way the Lighting
;world the For
holding Liberty Lady
high torch Her
,tired the For
,hungry the For
—yearning the For
previously was that But
a mythology past our
like told twice Story
the in readers Two
.S Postmodern
spine cracked The
to leaves its Releases
along wither and Scatter
.past dusty Earth’s
—Funk Glenda
Glenda — I think you and I were sharing some perspectives across the mind waves today….and probably lots of days… “we fancied”… yes, this misperception that we were a “beacon” and that we tended to “the tired,” “the hungry” makes the voice of this so poignant in its cracking that veneer to reveal “mythology.” I feel like this is a chapter in a tale that will “release its leaves” and continue to startle us to write a better history, to change the ugly mess that we’ve seen as we looked backward. This country, we, must change in so many ways…you’ve done a fine job of showing that facade for its more honest reality. We, indeed, have a “dusty past.” Thank you! Susie
Ohhh, S. by J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst!! That was such a fun and interesting read! (I enjoyed your poem, too, by the way, lol; I was just surprised and delighted when reading “a Story / twice told like / Two readers in the / Postmodern S” lines.)
Played well, Funk, Glenda!
It’s just so stinkin’ sad. Your poem mirrors my mood today.
Glenda, mmmmmm, this poem is heavy with weight. The striking image at the end is moving, sad, and troubling. I’m not sure we can ever get back to the place you first describe, that “beacon” of light, but I sure wish we could, or at least do a better job. I can not even begin to imagine the terror and trauma so many people in this world endure every day. Your poem commands the reader to consider this overwhelming situation. Very powerful poem, Glenda!
I think this is a strong backwards poem, Glenda! I am absolutely fascinated how the backwards writing makes certain lines stand out, manipulating the meaning in precious ways. I loved these, especially:
a, hill on a City
-yearning the For
.past dusty Earth’s
I applaud your punctuation bravery….I could not wrap my eyes and mind around the use of commas or dashes or periods…so I opted for punctuation less poem (chicken, I know). Also, I love how this backwards form makes us question our backwards thinking…makes us rethink who/what we are (just has hard as we rethink how to read and write). Thanks for sharing!
Wow, so many rich treasures here in these backward lines. I like what Betsy said–the backward poem is a perfect form for this topic. Our backward history exposed. I like what you did with capitalization of each line. It’s interesting how it jumps out when it’s not where we usually see these capital letters. It draws attention to the important words–Previously, Story Scatter, Releases, Bright, Lighting. Your poem is a challenge today as we let those old leaves blow away.
Funk Glenda, you thank!
.too week this poem clown orange your liked I S.P.
Yesss, Funk Glenda!!!! This poem is FIRE! “to leaves its Releases/along wither and Scatter…” forward and backward, it’s fire!!
?
Oh how my brain resisted this! Time for Tylenol! Great fun once I started, and may comment on yours after my eyes go uncrossed.
Help Now!
By Nancy White
Hurts head me think
Do not do— this
Tease-brain like bad puzzle
Thank you, NO
Untangled, noodle wet, fish flopping
For longing
Now help!
Nancy — I’m chucking here with the realization that we’ve shared the same “do not do” and “flopping fish” sensation of brains resisting the challenge. I almost succumbed and opted out. And here you are with a perfectly dandy poem puzzle. The “brain-tease” is such an apt response. Fun! Susie
ha ha! I’m chuckling too….you are backwards and not all at the same time. Fun. Help is on the way….this is day five until next month! Rest, Nancy. Rest.
Nancy, I love the emotion shared through your poem. The “flopping fish” and “wet noodle”. I also appreciated the all caps for “NO”. Very fun poem!
A World Upside with Grief
(A poem to be read right to left)
by Erica Johnson
expected was It
.unexpected and
.cancer had she knew We
.time had we thought We
.gone was she and blinked We
,teenager a quite wasn’t I
.weight this for enough old but
.again her see never I’d knew I
.okay doing was I thought I
.fell tears the and blinked I
because in it hold to able wasn’t I
.loss with experience first my was she
.heartbreak the remember I
.visit graveside the refusing remember I
.love surrounding remember I mostly But
:remains what is that later years 20 Unexpectedly
.love, remembering, blinking, thinking, knowledge
Erica, I am sorry for your loss, no matter how long ago it was. I like the use of binaries in some of your lines here (time, expectations, etc.). Thank you for sharing this experience and your feelings here with us today.
I am moved by how this heartbreak was experienced by a not quite teenager. I have often wondered if someone that young could relate to what was going on. You must have had a strong attachment to her. I like how this poem works forward as well. When reading left to right the main words really stand out; unexpected, cancer, teenager, heartbreak, love.
Erica, I am saddened by your loss. What an impact she had on you in her life and death. Holding on to the memories and the love. Your last line sums it up perfectly.
This has me thinking about my 8th graders and how they experience so much of that world from that “not quite a teenager”. So many have written about heavy emotions this year, hard moments and experiences that will shape them. I hope, twenty years from now, they too can look back and find that they were surrounded by love.
Erica, I love the raw emotion in your poem. You capture the suddenness of loss. I could feel the blink, the tears. The last line is especially poignant…..”remembering, love”….such a perfect end to an incredibly powerful poem. Thanks for sharing!
Erica, you have captured the emotions and long-lasting pain of first losses. That’s why it makes no sense when people say it gets better with time. It is never better. It’s just different. Sending love your way.
[Note: This was a challenge! An animal that cannot move backward: the emu. Susie]
20/20 HINDSIGHT
— 20/20 hindsight
2020 at looking
— 2021 it’s that now
somehow things if as
different miraculously
clearly more Q see we do
loops news watch
angles from videos of
wonder us make that
record to time taking was who
? why and mayhem
documentation Boys Proud ? Evidence
insurrection of
sense not, logic not but
faith from stripped empathy
oozing lust cretinous
corners dark in
? Street Main down straight and
20/20 Hindsight’s
— stretch a be might
direction of emu the
— eye skewered Oedipus the
inequity to blind remain it does
color see
it label
hate with
centuries four almost
disrespect arbitrary of
cages to cold
generations lost of faces vacant
cruelty by scarred
? humanity shredded
20/20 Hindsight’s
: it see we do but there
virus lethal worldwide a
erased 536,000 our
land this from
2,134,000 other the with
; grave mass shallow a in carnage
hands impotent its wring hindsight does
mumbling
them know don’t we, well
cares who, really so
grandma your
lady old another just was
gone those
much that all matter don’t
science dangerous, vaccines and
; me jabbing go don’t so
? else something about talk just we can
20/20 hindsight’s If
glasses industrial-grade requires it
lenses 3-d
protect that
eclipse searing the from
threaten that rays
. eyes our out gouge to
20/20 Hindsight’s
back step I when
2020, 17, March to
focus the adjust
swallow
verdict the
burn slow
touching not of
lap glacial a for you
earth’s and sun of
choreography
way my see to
. all it of loss the to clear
©Morice Susie by 2021 17 March
susie–you have summed up all of 2020 here. what a year, right? Let’s hope that 2021 bodes better for us…
Enjoyed these thoughts and images— almost like looking at like a collage. The sum of all the parts smacked me in the face with realization of all we’ve been through.
Oh, Susie, I’m taking this one with me for a while…
I’m not sure there is a pair of glasses strong and thick enough for 2020 hindsight
Wowza!
And what a description of the slow burning year we had
Amazing poetry today!
Susie, your poem is incredibly powerful and screams with raw with emotion. I appreciate the sight elements throughout this from Oedipus’ eye to the 2020 hindsight examining the horrors of this past year. Your lines:
were particularly haunting. Then the voice of the dispassionate italicized feels like an unbelievable slap in the face. I have been dismayed too often by comments I have heard throughout this last year, and that part resonated with me. However, I thought the end was the most heart-wrenching. Chilling….”glacial lap” and “clear to the loss of it all”……mmmmmm…. this poem emotionally knocks me done. You sure nailed the vile truth of 2020. Hugs and peace to you, Susie!
Susie,
Every image is spot on. Oedipus, indeed! Nothing new in what we see. It has been going on forever. The imagery of
reminds me of how wounded and wrong we have been. Hindsight might be 20/20, but like the emu that can’t look back, we don’t look back through the right lens. The italics section captures the absurdity of the pandemic. Is there a genre called poetry if the absurd? We need that category for the absurdity of this moment.
Wow, Susie. I think this message is clear forward and backward! I think this one should be in the Oral History Project’s collection. Hey, Sarah, maybe we need a volume 2!
Chain
forward looking life my imagine
backward. it at looking then
events of chain a
as reordered line each
thought each recollect I
apart it take
it unhook
it organize
down. it write
reassembled links broken then
structure new a in
reconnected
back life a linking
together
spell magical some like
weaving
time rework to
links. missing adding and
Susan — I loved thinking of such an opportunity…relinking, reassembling… Geez, I want a shot at that. I love how you attacked this “backward” challenge. There really is something “magical” about it! Thank you. Susie
I love the line breaks and how the poem takes on the appearance of a chain as you work your way down the text. I like how it plays with the forward and backward nature of time. It was challenging not to read it left to right and still find some meaning!
Love this sense of deconstruction/construction. Spoken like a true artist.
Susan, this reminds me of your assemblage art work. Ways you redo pieces making different, yet equally interesting art.
Katrina–Wow! This required a whole new way of thinking! It really forces an economy of words in order to maintain any sense of meaning! Loved the exercise for my brain today! Thanks to you and your student for the inspiration!
Backwards Going
Teach to going not was I
Grandma watched I
papers grade
night after night
lamp low
table room dining.
knew I
took it yourself of much how
Teacher to be a
Plans Bigger had I.
heels high painful
suits dark
lunches long.
Things Important.
Important Really Not.
42 at
kids three
days substituting
classes evening
Important found I
27
years
Important of
Suits dark no
Heels (painful) NO!!
Lunches long no.
myself Giving
Kids of world a to
more getting…
Importance.
Now. Retired.
before long How
Forgotten am I
until long How
Important being
Memory only is?
Sands, J Gayle
2021,17 Mar
Gayle! “Giving myself to a world of kids” is what resonates with me today….important things! This form works great for the “backward plan” that turned out to be the better path!
Gayle — This is really captivating… the mind worms of a teacher… the what ifs. It’s a heck of a journey here… the challenge of “importance” is one that weighs differently at different stages in our lives, that’s for sure. These lines really said it for me:
I absolutely believe that the teacher gift, giving yourself to kids is THE most important one in the world. You did that! That really is something IMPORTANT… wonderful. Thank you for taking the path you did! Susie
Gayle, what a beautiful and honest reflection today. Interesting that the important work included heels and long lunches. That is so funny, and antithetical to teaching! Yes, indeed, you took the more important route, and the memories you’ve made for your students will live on longer than you!
I, too, never expected to be a teacher – yet – here I am. I’m struck by the time passage here, the vision of you as a child, a young professional, a mom, teacher, retired… pow, life goes so fast, backwards and forward. That line, “How long until being important is only memory” – is searing. The capitals add so much intrigue to this reading. Chuckling at the name and date in reverse as well. I see you like fun!
Oh, this is truly heart-felt. You will never be forgotten!
(you remember always will I)
?
Katrina, thank you for giving our brains a workout these two days! My head is hurting again.
I love your poem about Joe Biden, a decent man to call our president. He is hearing your unsent letter. I like your student’s poem about the bad dreams too–so powerful. Thank you again for sharing your prompts.
I tried an Arabic form (so you don’t have to be fluent to try it, that’s for sure and a friend helped with the footnote. haha). It did bring up a lovely memory for me, though, so I was glad for the opportunity to write it today.
ط taa letter the see I Whenever
back me brings it
school of day first my to
.Bahrain in
٤ January was day The
.January ٤ here say they as or
teacher kindergarten English new the was I
.year mid starting
.days ten for country the in been had I
knew already who children were students My
culture Bahraini more
.will ever I than language and
class Arabic an through sat I
table tiny rainbow a at
by surrounded
.children young
here worked things how learning :Me
.orientation facto de my in
.me loved already children the knew I
babies these with start to gift a What
.fears my all than bigger were hearts whose
*tomatoes for is taa that learning :They
in taas of line a write to how and
.determination wobbly
ط ط ط ط ط ط ط ط
Right
to
Left,
Right
to
Left
.style Arabic
period Next
,up lined we
,right turned
,hall the down
,upstairs went
,left turned
teacher nervous their of classroom the into
–learning continued and
time this
style English
Left
to
Right,
Left
to
Right
.hard something do also could I believe me helped They
_______________
* حرف الطاء طماطم
Denise, what a beautiful exchange of language – – and the picture is beautiful for showing us what it looks like. The reciprocal nature of challenge – teacher challenging students in one direction, students challenging teacher in a different direction – is heartfelt and sincere here. Our students never fully realize the magnitude of their ability to empower their teachers, I don’t think. You make it clear here that this is an authentic teaching relationship.
Waaaay cool, Denise! This prompt has hand-delivered for this poem! I love it! Your experiences in Bahrain must have been stunning especially in those first few days. My favorite line:
And the pic! COOL! Thank you! Susie
What a beautiful window to your first days in Bahrain, I love what you captured in this poem. These two lines just read so beautifully left to right (or right to left!):
class Arabic an through sat I
table tiny rainbow a at
I love the idea of a table tiny rainbow. How precious is that?
Oh, WOW! I’m so glad I scrolled down and found your poem! You took me on a journey where I felt excitement and uncertainty but also the thrill and surprises!
I LOVED this line especially: “.fears my all than bigger were hearts whose”
Just a simple reversal for me today. Exhausting week and only Wednesday, yet my thanks to everyone here – and Kim especially – for helping keep poetry alive. Poetry is life. Life is poetry.
Out Backing No
pandemic this entered I
ago year one
choice by not
circumstance but
ready am I
many are as
exit the find to
back way my make
sure not I’m but
what to
up gave ago long I
“were we way the”
sense no have yet
be can we what of
want not do I
hard too hope to
something for
isn’t that.
Denise, hope your week finishes off with less stress. This poem is great. It expresses how I feel about the pandemic. I have had both my vaccinations and am ready to go but feel that life we gave up long ago has changed drastically and will never be quite the same. “exit the find to
back way my make
sure not I’m but
what”
Denise, I’m with you. I feel like we are in this evolution of being – of so many transitions, from “the way we were” to the way we are changing, all the while wondering how to keep the balance of hope so that there is anticipation without total disappointment. Your sharing of these ideas opens up the vulnerability that we all feel in these days of pandemic. Thank you for sharing and baring your soul to us.
Denise – Your take on the “backward” is spot-on… “no backing out” “exit” “my way back”– that’s really good crafting. Your poem really worked with this “backward” design… you mastered the economy of words that I really struggled with. You made it look seamless. I sure hope the “exit” brings a more fulfilled sense of equity for kids and for teachers and their families. Fingers crossed. Thank you. Susie
What a powerful poem that forces you to slow down and take it in since it is written right to left. The ending especially hit me with your last two lines! I really enjoyed this one.
Oh, my…this made my brain hurt (in a good way). I found myself reading poems aloud, and my halting speech reminded me of how challenging the act of reading is for some of our students. It’s exhausting. We should all return ourselves to that learning stage sometimes, remembering what it feels like to be incredibly bad at something when you’re just learning. I truly think this act makes us much better teachers.
I started out writing this poem thinking about the idea of things being backwards, and I was thinking about how, when we’re young, we have all of these things we don’t really value, like good knees, the ability to take naps, lots of energy, etc. My poem kind of went in a different direction, though.
family of Astronomy
young, was I When
lament to used always mom my
people,” wrong the to energy gave God”
I and brother little my watched she as
crazily her orbit
then, was she than older am I Today,
orbit. the of center the myself find I and
happen would what wonder I Sometimes
center the in planted feet my have didn’t I if
me. around swirling energy crazy the all of
understand I that now is It
energy magnetic constant the that
mother my from out radiating
powerful more infinitely was
craziness. outer any than
Denise–so very true!! What will the world be for us now? I can’t imagine what we will do, how we will change! but we won’t back out, will we!?
Julie, I just love that first stanza, as a parent it made me laugh and also empathize. Your words in this form also create a dizzy-ing feeling that further supports the content.
Julie,
I totally agree that this was challenging. I loved:
What a beautiful lesson in understanding the power of our mother’s energy!
Gorgeous message.
Katrina and Kim, thank you for a fantastic and challenging week of writing together! I’ve learned some new forms and gained new stamina! I appreciate the opportunity to go back to memories again and truly loved the brain teasing work of yesterday and today.
My daughter and I used to play a game we created called The Backwards Game. I would spell words backwards really fast and she would tell me the word before I could finish spelling it. She was about 6 years old!!!! I knew she was special. So this prompt today was perfect! I almost wrote the words backwards too, but thought that would be very inconsiderate. LOL. I wrote about the struggles I’m facing with decolonizing my mind. Thank you!
Eye Mind’s My
trying am I
decolonize to
mind my
whites the and
.eyes my of
mind My
wise a like
quilt trimmed-white
blocks faceted-multi
.thread white with tacked
quilt trimmed-white My
stories in stitched
eyes my blind to lies of
power ancestral keeping
.me but anyone for
eyes my blind to lies All
languages African West from
cries silenced in spoken
lines blood disguising
.eyes my of whites the striking
©Stacey L. Joy, March 17, 2021
Stacey–so much strength here! You juxtapose the easy and obvious with reality with eloquence and truth.
Stacey, your first stanza stopped me in mid-sip of my hot and sour soup. I am trying to decolonize my mind and the whites of my eyes….oh. my. gosh! The quilt stitched in stories of lies – – there is such depth of metaphor here! The lies, truths, blood lines – – I’m swimming in a sea of fascination with your verse today!
OOOOooo, Stacey – This is just superb. The voice of “taking back” what was stripped away from your roots is strong and shines with a fierceness that I love. “The white of the eyes” is a striking image. I just finished reading Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, and your lines about the “lies to blind my eyes”… that is powerful stuff that I’ve been thinking about a whole lot. The word “decolonize” is PERFECT for the act of cleansing yourself of the systemic structures that deny value in identity with color and “languages from West Africa.” This poem is hot! And I love it. Way to use that powerful Stacey voice! Thank you! Susie
Stacey,
I agree with Kim, opening with decolonizing my mind is fabulous and draws us in and sets us up for the rest of your verse. I also appreciate your anecdote at the beginning too. Thank you for sharing.
Stacey, this is really beautiful. there’s so much important story here in the lines. I love the “whites of my eyes” repetition throughout.
Back Words to the Front
Leading while learning
Needing and yearning
Best my do to wanting
Seeding minds young
Grow them watching
Know they that show blossoms up sprung
Back the from leading
Lack I what learning
Grunt me makes work the doing
Front the in be to longing and burning
Leading while learning
Needing and yearning
Grumps ‘onlookers the spurning
Thumbs and fingers with poems out churning
Weeding lessons past and learning I’m what taking
Chums professional and friends new making
P.S. Where do we put the apostrophes when we’re writing right to left?
I love this! I really think there’s no profession like teaching that makes you face your own inadequacies and insecurities on a daily basis. We never really figure it all out, do we? (I’m not sure I’d want to, if I’m being honest.) I tell my students all the time that I learn as much from them as they learn from me…they never really quite get it. I love “learning while leading”…the backwards words really expose a truth there.
Anna–you are the queen of rhyme! This poem reads as beautifully forward as backward! love the reflection of the wonders of teaching.
Yes, as Gayle said, you are a master of rhyme, and here you are a double-fisted rhymer! On both ends you are rhyming. I had fun reading this aloud!
I love the repeated refrain
Beautiful, Anna!
This is amazing, how the rhythms change with the direction -beautiful beats! Fascinating. And beautiful.
I really like the feel of this poem…the back and forth feeling like a rocking chair or a see-saw. I had a similar feeling about punctuation when I was writing…it kind of sticks out doesn’t it?
words hurtful
spoken once
uttered once
brought
into forth
spaces the
us between
like are
figurative that
toothpaste
squeezed once
tube the from
can’t they
taken be
and back
an make
incredible
mess
Left or right, you’ve spoken a truth to which we need to pay attention! Thanks, Scott.
I wish I would have read this ten minutes sooner! I just used the term “opened a floodgate” with colleagues, and, instead, I would have use the toothpaste metaphor! Next time. Why are words so much more indelible? Even toothpaste can be cleaned up. I get this. Do I.
The mess is real. love this pithy, truthful poem!
Scott — This is sure a lesson is relationships…can’t put that nasty comment back in the tube. I’m impressed at how well your sparse words work so darned well. Dang! I shoulda read yours and worked harder to take a structure lesson from you. You can read your poem any which-a-way and it reads slick and smooth. How’d you do that? Well done! Susie
I love your toothpaste comparison, and I’m also imagining this poem in graphic novel/illustrated form with two people speaking and the words they speak, in a variety of fonts and styles hanging in the space between them. I’m wondering if our words might be different if we had to look at them hanging in the space in front of us.
Wow – this works amazingly well – you broke those lines perfectly and is there ever SO much truth in them!
Scott,
.truth speak You
doesn’t “sorry I’m”
.words released Erase
release and catch no is There
.words fighting In
*Hello, fellow fan of the postmodern.
“life right to left”
or night last
last of night
asked Oma my
to has she why
son her to listen
said she, mom am I
or shift lives
life of shifts
charge in me put
choices your of
care your, said he
now guardian your I’m
life of circle the
cycle life or
flow generational
reversal confusing a
need and love of
forward it pay
Once again, the genre of poetry showcases the paradoxes of life! We’d think when we became adults we’d not need to be treated like a child ever again! But, thankfully, there are offspring like you and your brother who know it’s a honor to be able to care for those who cared for us. God bless you.
I can feel the circular flow of this concept through the words and narrator’s spoken images. Concepts that can be so challenging to even put into words in the first place, and yet, there’s something about this reversal form that adds to that expression, to my understanding as I read it, to the movement and the meaning. This is a great example of how form and content are inseparable. These especially, “cycle of life / flow generational.” I mean, as a left-to-right writer, who would have put those words together in that order? But how powerful they are read L2R as well as R2L. Lovely. Poignant.
whew! lives shift, or shift of lives. It is in our present, and in our future. I hope to be gracious when the time comes for me to be guarded… a confusing reversal, indeed…
WOW! You found the perfect thematic match for this form…how our roles reverse, how our points of view or expectations change, how life cycles and recycles…I could not a imaginge a better fit. I love your word play, too: “last night or/night of last” and “lives shift or/shifts of life” and “the circle of life/or life cycle” (forgive my rearranging of the word order)….you play with form and function so sweetly and sadly.
Interesting how prompts pop up sometimes at the exact moment you need them to. Thanks, Katrina.
today write I poem this wish I
way same the time move will
yesterday to back me take and
you about care I believe you
redo a allowed I’m somehow
.truth this prove to able I’m and
This poem makes me want to cry. I feel such a sense of a broken heart. The contemporary idea of ‘allowed a redo’ is a light moment in that timeless rift of relationshipping. That it starts as a wish gives it a kind of devotional tone as well, as if trying to move the gods of time to hear the narrator. A plea to the heavens, those far-removed sky gods. And yet, the truth is for a human who may have since themselves disappeared from the narrator’s life. Oh, sigh. So sad. The form adds emotional depth to this in a way it would have lacked as L2R. How sweet to see how well that works! (See, not so sad after all! Good poetry brightens every day!)
Angelica–this is sweet and sad and loving, and I hope your redo is strong and good! I need a hug here!
Oh, this is heartbreaking and leaves so many questions trapped and unanswered in the white spaces.
Katrina, I love today’s prompt and how it gives me new thinking. I have a new student, an Arabic speaker. Her willingness to learn has made her my instant favorite kid. We were reading together and I pointed out that in English, we read left to right. It took her no time to correct herself….and here I am trying to read/write right to left for twenty minutes and the work of it surprises me. Thank you for this post. It’s taught me so much!
Looking for El Salvador–
Read from Right to Left
school at
world the of flags
students by painted
halls the line
dismissal at yesterday
slowly wandered boy a
him asked I
help need you do”
“? bus your finding
said he No.”
searching I’m_
flag my for
El Salvador for looking I’m”
Linda, this brings heat thumps early this morning as I envision this sweet child looking for his country’s flag. You captured a precious moment. Somehow the love of a baby blanket weaves its way i to my thinking when I think of a child searching for a beloved flag and the way he feels about it.
I love this one! I love how it being written right to left adds to that feeling of being lost. It’s short, but clever and I feel like it says more because of the form combined with the words!
This is lovely, Linda. Simple and lovely. The dialogue is powerful and I hope he did find his flag.
Linda, your poem highlights the reason for visual diversity in our school spaces that honor the variety of kids, teens, and adults who people those spaces.
How often have we thought of the men and women who serve by cleaning our rooms, cooking our lunches, driving our buses, mowing the lawns and shoveling the snow? How can we honor them by showing them in honorable ways? Sometimes, as your poem shows, just a flag will do it!
Oh, Linda. this made me pause and breathe deep. The sense of loss… wow.
“I’m looking for El Salvador” has multiple meanings. I hope he found it, or that he paints one for the collection. Beautiful poem and I enjoyed the story about your Arab student.
I am reminded again of the power of small moments, reading this. I can see the boy so clearly, looking for his home flag – so poignant. Reads beautifully either way. I am also struck by the story of your Arabic-speaking student, how quickly she adapted to reversing the reading direction; you’re right, just a few minutes of our trying to work right to left is a surprising amount of work.
A fascinating approach; I will need to play with this more. Katrina, that letter-turned-backwards poem is incredibly powerful. So are your expectations, read in either direction; your words stir my heart.
Here’s my initial attempt:
Voice
start a with wake I
voice your hearing
name my calling
remember I before
are you
here longer no
are you
gone long
still but
somehow
near so
Oh goodness! This one caught me by surprise there at the end. Brings tears of memory. I like how this reads, forward and backward. I like the idea that backward words brought a back in time moment.
Wow. The emotion of this hits hard right to left AND left to right. Isn’t it interesting how thinking harder by right to left opens up emotion? So cool.
even in reverse, this breaks my heart. Beautiful and loving.
Fran, thank you for writing and sharing this! It’s concise and tender and, just, so good.
Yah. Odd.
(reversed lines)
myself, never am I
front in am I when
mirror the of
reflection a only
space physical of
is see I nothing
head my of inside
poems the not
stories the nor
songs the nor
little a wave I
little a weave to
on wander then and
(bottom up and in reverse)
on wander then and
little a weave to
little a wave I
songs the nor
stories the nor
poems the Not
head my of inside
is see I Nothing
space physical of
reflection a Only
mirror the of
front in am I when
myself never am I
Kevin, what a creative idea to think to put a mirror as a reversed image on a backward poem! The whole mirror reflection and the way of thinking about this image reflects the complexity of your creative spirit!
Oh and I like how the mirror itself was in bold.
Neat-O! or, O-Neat! I love the idea of a mirror in this poem. It works.
Ditto, Kim.
Ditto, Linda.
Depend on Kevin to take the challenge to another level!
Thanks for the reminder that students can show us more that we expected and they’ll be RIGHT! So, RIGHT ON, Kevin!
What they all said! Love the nuance!
Kevin — Oooof… this is masterful. The whole notion of the mirror — that reverse image…dang, that’s good. And that we really don’t see in a mirror who we really are. Golly moses…this is really a brilliant poem…the form (as whack-a-doodle as it is) is somehow excellent for this life message. Wowza! I’m really quite taken by this poem… you are darned fine on the page today! (well, you’re always that way…but this one…whoooo!) Thank you. Susie
Katrina, thank you for two days of fun new forms this week! The Arabic is another code type of poem that stretches our brains a little – and it’s so much fun! Thank you for investing in us as writers. I wrote this Haiku yesterday after receiving a hilarious morning text from my dad about his new rescue Schnoodle he’s had for a month. He is madly in love with her and tries to downplay it. I’ll post the link to my blog, where there is an image of his actual text.
Schnodle Haikoodle
Schnoodle a has Dad.
rescue sweet a him found We.
think I, Thanks, said He.
http://drjohnsonscommonthreads.blogspot.com/2021/03/thanks-i-think.html?m=1
Your title – priceless! As is your dad’s trying to downplay his love for this dog. Truth of the matter is, Schnoodle does have Dad. This backwards way of writing reveals things.
How fun! But, really…it calls to mind the question of who rescues who? Clever.
So beautiful, Kim. Glad you posted a link to his great text.
Oh, Fran has a good point. It is interesting to read the backwards haiku left to right. It seems to reveal that the Schnoodle has Dad and that the sweet rescue found you.
Kim — You are so creative! I love this. “Snhnoodle Haikoodle” That’s priceless! You are a dog-mommy to the bone… arf! Hugs, Susie
Kim, oh yeah, he’s totally in love with Kona! Lol. Thanks for linking to the text. (And I enjoyed both the Haiku version and the Haikoodle version of your poem!)
“Thanks, I think.” – I can’t tell you how many times my dad has said those words to me…like he’s not sure he feels gratitude, but knows he should say the words. I think, like your dad, it’s not that he’s really unsure, he is just programmed to downplay. Thanks for making me consider that!