Piece of Work
An Inverse Poem
Artist, at your core
So smoothly you con
It out, secrecy,
With your words you draw
Me in, defensive
Crumbling walls, collapse
Down from just your touch,
Safe haven, burning
Promises and oaths
On my heart, breaking
Through shadow layers
All disappearing
Now, for the good days
Everything is changed
At stitched raw edges
Overcast, undone
When you paint my skies
Blue, brimming over,
A canvas, I am
More, a muse broken
Free, by you wanting
Me, your masterpiece
About the Creator
D.K. Shepard
Character Crafter, Witty Banter Enthusiast, World Builder, Unpublished novelist...for now
Fantasy is where I thrive, but I like to experiment with genres for my short stories. Currently employed as a teacher in Louisville.
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Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
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Original narrative & well developed characters
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A Flower Song
Apparently the Aztecs, Toltecs, Chichimecs and other Mexica were crazy about poetry. Despite the book-burning, slaughter, and epidemics that characterized the early stages of the Spanish conquest of the empires of Mexico, some hundreds of poems from the height of their tradition come down to us in Classical Nahuatl, preserved by Nahua and Spanish scholars of the 16th century. One of the most famous poets, Nezahualcoyotl, was a sage-king who opposed the cult of human sacrifice associated with Tezcatlipoca, God of the Smoking Mirror, and favored Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent. Flowers and feathers were the favorite offering of the Plumed Serpent. Moreover, flowers and feathers are a metaphor for poetry. Individual words, scattered petals, the down of tropical birds. The temples of blood sacrifice could be transformed into temples of flower and song. A sublimated offering to the Heart of Earth and the Heart of Sky encapsulated in the Classical Nahuatl kenning for poetry: in xōchitl in cuīcatl, meaning, "the flower and the song." The following poem is part of a longer work, and is in a state of flux, so take the waters as they flow:
By Rob Angeli5 days ago in Poets
"LIFE MEANING IS A MANY SPLENDERED THING"
This was inspired through my living so many decades of life intensely and creatively! This is dedicated to all young human beings to learn the difference between being addicted to love and real love, of true compassion and friendship that must go hand in hand with companionship.’
By Vicki Lawana Trusselli 5 days ago in Poets
Comments (22)
Great imagery!
I like how this flips around this line “Now, for the good days”, and how all the negative imagery that is hidden first time around is revealed bit by bit. Nicely done D.K. 👏
THis is a very impressive inverse poem - long and complex. A real demonstration of your poetic skill set that you were able to write something this long that reads so well in both directions!
Oh, this is so clever, beautiful, and well executed! Fantastic concept! 😍 Congratulations!!
Excellent poem, D.K.!
Wooohooooo congratulations on your win! 🎉💖🎊🎉💖🎊
Back to say congratulations on the recognition!! Well-deserved for such a wonderfully crafted piece :)
Congrats on placing in the inverse challenge! I missed this one until now. Very well written!
Great Job!
Brilliant!!! Congratulations on the runner-up win!!!
Congrats!! Great entry
Congratulations on winning Runner Up in the Inverse Challenge! Excellent piece!
What a great inverse. Complete opposite meaning. I have great respect for writers who can do this so well.
I love the artist-muse relationship here. This is really compelling.
What a striking piece!! Such a brilliant and tragic reversal when read backwards. Thanks for sharing!
This is beautifully written, and works so well. Great job.
My favourite part is the little trio around painting the skies - I feel like this is a real pivot point forwards and back
Cleverly done! Love the first and last lines especially… artist & masterpiece ✅
Omgggg, you nailed this! It reads so well both ways, forwards and in reverse!
D.K. I LOVE this poem! It's the first one of these I have read that I understand backwards and forward!! Nice job!
Nice poem! Enjoyed!
The dueling emotions that lay in this - so well done. This is an excellent inverse poem, not only with its expertly-placed opposing perspectives, but with its ability to be a mirror of and within itself. One that makes the reader question the original image depicted. AND using art and the creation of illusions to convey a warped relationship? Wow, I love this! Great piece!