A Reverse Poem
by Cori Bohan
I simply can’t do it.
I refuse to believe that
It is possible.
Thoughts sway in my memory implying
I am worthless.
And I refuse to believe that
I can become an artist and create a magnificent life story on a blank canvas and
I can sail the oceans and
I can write a story when all I have is blank pages.
I simply can’t do it.
I refuse to believe that
The world brings light to me.
Everyday
I look for that light and
When I only find darkness
In the shadows of my existence
I believe
That the light is simply unattainable to my eyes.
I refuse to let myself learn that
I can do anything and
I can become anybody because
I simply can’t.
And I refuse to believe that
I can.
Now, read it again, bottom to top. This poem is called a reverse poem. It is read one way to distribute one meaning and it is then read backward to share the opposite meaning. This poem is about the benefit of looking at the world in a positive light, instead of a negative one. I believe that the world we live in today has many terrible and dark events within it, and we, as a society have to look between the crevices of the impossible and look at the radiating possibilities.
This writing is part of a collection featured in the 2020 Celebrate the Arts Writing Contest, an annual contest hosted by The Arts Council of Westerville, Westerville Public Library and the ThisWeek Westerville News & Public Opinion as one of many events organized by the Arts Council to mark April as “Celebrate the Arts” month in Westerville.
