The NaPoWriMo prompt was to write a poem that tells a story. But here’s the twist – the story should be told backwards. The first line should say what happened last, and work its way through the past until you get to the beginning. (I found the only way this worked was to leave out capital letters and punctuation.) The WordPress prompt was “Solitude.” I wrote a poem combining the two prompts. Remember to read the post both ways–from the beginning to the end and then from the end to the beginning.
Earned Solitude
it was the beginning of the end
I gained more wine but lost a friend
her face was red, her lips were blue
there was little else to do
she left me very shortly after
I fear I left the room in laughter
by handing her a looking glass
I proved the hypocrisy of the lass
who sat so innocently in her chair
as I rejoined my best friend fair
I’d make an honest woman of her
I meant to blow her good girl cover
I poured my wine, then left the room
as she sat weaving on her loom
the color rich, the flavor fine
one night I brought blueberry wine
though I had seen her taking sips
she claimed no liquor crossed her lips
I was the wild party girl
she was pious—her father’s pearl
Yes, those really are blueberries on the bottle. How fortunate for me that I’d bought a bottle in the local street market a few months ago. As I was puzzling over how to illustrate this poem, I suddenly remembered it! Remember to read the poem backwards from the end as well.
Another one I used to know the name of but no longer do. If anyone does, I’ll add the name if you clue me in. So little time.. so many unidentified plants! I loved the sky as much as I did the flowers on this day…I may paint my house this color!
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 