Reverse poetry is a poem that can be read forwards (top to bottom) and have one meaning, but can also be read backwards (bottom to top) and have a different or opposite meaning.
This past school year, my daughter Kya’s freshman class was tasked with writing reverse poetry. Kya rose to the occasion and wrote a heartfelt poem on her feelings about school. Used with permission, here is Kya’s reverse poem. Be sure to read it both ways. Enjoy!
~~~
School is hard.
So don’t try to convince me that
I can accomplish anything.
Because at the end of the day,
I can’t do it anymore.
And I’m not going to lie to myself by saying
I need to learn this.
So you can be sure I will remind myself
that it is hard.
And nothing you can say will make me believe
I can do it.
Because no matter what
I will still struggle.
And I am in no position to believe that
somewhere inside me, I want to do this.
Because whenever I stare at that problem on the paper I always think
Am I smart enough?
