How to Write a Reverse Poem
A poem that can be read in both directions
For this weeks hidden gem post Cameron S. Bradley presents us with a thorough and eminently practical guide to writing a reverse poem. I had no idea that such a thing existed- let alone how would go about constructing one- before I read this post. It goes to show that there is always something new to learn and to try and that our curiosity and hunger to try new things creatively only die off when we stop looking. This was a rejuvenating read for me, and I hope it proves to be the same for you.
Enjoy,
TJB.
What’s a reverse poem?
A reverse poem is a poem written in such a way that two opposite meanings can be drawn from the text, depending on whether you read the poem line by line from the top-down, or the bottom-up. Here are a few examples from around the web:
1. “Refugees”, by Brian Bilston
2. “Pretty Ugly”, by Abdullah Shoaib https://www.wattpad.com/627547958-poems-pretty-ugly-by-abdullah-shoaib
3. “Depression in Reverse”, by Shadow-poet https://shadow-poet.tumblr.com/post/133283923629/an-attempt-to-reverse-my-current-state-of-mind
And here is one that I wrote a couple of years ago. It was my first attempt, so…yeah, it’s not the best, but here it is:
Inside, Looking Out
the view from atop an ivory tower
makes me doubt the value of
being among the vast majority
they don’t know what it’s like:
fancy cars and penthouses
are greater than
the needs of a global community
it’s a no-brainer that
the throngs of the average
are detrimental to
the crisp comforts of a billionaire
exorbitant wealth
trumps
living a half-decent life
just being alive is enough
to know that
the bereft and homeless
can wait; we need
yachts and mansions
without these basic amenities
what’s the point of living
this is paradise
a place where one can think:
how soothing, to be in a
world where I don’t see the starving and destitute
I prefer a
universe of the privileged, which is why
the alternative
is better than
to be outside, looking in
(now read line by line from the bottom up)
Where to begin?
The first thing to note is the constraint this kind of poem creates for the writer. When deciding what to write about, you’ll need to choose two opposite “meanings” or “messages”; in other words the theme of a reverse poem will almost always be the conflict between two separate schools of thought on a given subject. I say “almost” because it may be possible to stretch the boundary of what a reverse poem can accomplish in this regard, although I have yet to read one that doesn’t play with the theme of exact opposites.
So, the first step is to choose two conflicting notions that you can write about. Topics such as happiness/unhappiness, loneliness/friendship, beauty/ugliness make for a great place to start practicing, but are somewhat overdone. You could also choose to write about something more topical (something happening in the news that you have a strong opinion on, for example). The downside with this approach is that you may alienate some readers if the poem doesn’t represent each side of the issue with some equanimity. In any case, just choose something that interests you and that you want to explore in your poetry.
The main technique
Okay, so you’ve got an idea for your poem. Now what? Should you start from the top or the bottom? Or perhaps the middle? I’ve realized that even if you think you’ve written the first three lines of the poem, they may wind up becoming the midpoint of your poem during the writing process. This is fine: the main challenge of a reverse poem is to have it make sense in either direction.
I’m going to use the poem “Pretty Ugly”, by Abdullah Shoaib as a model for how to think about the structure of your reverse poem.
Let’s break it down one line at a time.
Line 1: “I’m very ugly.” is a negative notion. It’s also the theme that will carry us to the bottom of the poem. As a visual aid, I’ve put a minus sign next to the line.
Line 2: “So don’t try to convince me that” is an incomplete, neutral thought. It’s only half a sentence. Notice that it also starts with a conjunction. As a general rule, in order for the poem to be read from both directions, the lines need to sandwich these neutral, half-sentences which in the case of this poem, always begin with “so”, “because”, and “and”. This way the lines before and after can complete the thought initiated by these neutral lines.
Line 3: “I am a very beautiful person”. This is a positive notion, hence the “plus” sign. If you were to take just the first three lines of the poem you’d already have a miniature reverse poem.
Line 4: “Because at the end of the day” is another neutral sentence line. Again, the neutral lines are often incomplete sentences. This is essential because the preceding line can finish the sentence from one perspective, and the succeeding line can do the same from the opposite perspective. As you continue writing, you’ll need to constantly read your lines to make sure they’re consistent in this regard.
Line 5: “I hate myself in every single way”. This is a negative notion and so is marked with a “-” sign. As you write your own poem, you’ll become cognizant of the constraint a “positive” or “negative” line puts on the next “neutral” line. If you write a line like “I hate myself…” and you need it to sound “positive” when read in the opposite direction, you know the next neutral line will need to reflect that.
Line 6: “And I’m not going to lie to myself by saying”. Neutral line (=). Notice how it starts with a conjunction. Most neutral lines will start with a conjunction, although it’s by no means mandatory. By now you’ve likely noticed the pattern that continues throughout the poem:
Line 7: “There is beauty inside of me that matters” (+)
Line 8: “So rest assured I will remind myself” (=)
Line 9: “That I am a worthless, terrible person” (-)
Line 10: “And nothing you say will make me believe” (=)
Line 11: “I still deserve love” (+)
Line 12: “Because no matter what” (=)
Line 13: “I am not good enough to be loved” (-)
Line 14: “And I am in no position to believe that” (=)
Line 15: “Beauty does exist within me” (+)
Line 16: “Because whenever I look in the mirror I always think” (=)
Line 17: “Am I as ugly as people say?” (+/-) This is the tricky bit. How do you end a reverse poem so that the last line can also be the first line when read from the bottom? There is no correct answer per se, but one useful trick is to end the poem with a question. Questions put the notion of doubt into the reader’s head, creating a natural turnaround spot in the poem. “Am I as ugly as people say?” Well, this can either be a positive or negative notion. It’s all about perspective.
Pros and cons to reverse poetry
Pros:
Fun to write; fun to read.
A well-written reverse poem will often impress readers who care very little about poetry.
Cons:
The constraint forces a simplistic dichotomy between two competing themes or messages.
Sometimes meaning derived from form itself can seem gimmicky.
I make the (very) occasional video on my YouTube channel. You can view my process in video form below:
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This is pretty cool. I'd never heard of this before. I'm wondering whether it can be counted as an Oulipo technique, which I write about a lot.