Write Your Own Mirror Poem...
Here is a mirror poem by Kevin McCann. Can you see why it is called a mirror poem?
The Sea
(An endless song to sing to while away long journeys)
Pools prink plip
Ripples ring rocks
Surf sings softly
Fat foam flecks
White waves whip
Breakers beat boulders
Wind wildly whistles
Waves whack wallop
Wind wildly whistles
Breakers beat boulders
White waves whip
Fat foam flecks
Surf sings softly
Ripples ring rocks
Pools prink plip
Did you notice the alliteration in The Sea? That's when words close together start with the same letter. That puts another great layer of pattern in the poem.
Many thanks to Kevin for letting me show you his poem here. If you'd like to see more poems by him here is the link to his new book on Kindle, Diary of a Shapeshifter.
Mirror poems can be great for writing about journeys, even small ones like going for a walk. I've started writing one here and left some lines out for you to fill in the gaps!
In the photo you can see my notes - with lots of crossing out and new words added. I change things a lot when I write!
Out and Back
(A Lockdown Journey)
Open the front door and step through,
What's different? No sound of traffic
Is that a robin singing?
A blackbird startles out of a hedge
One car goes by
Someone is coming towards us
We cross the road
They wave
In our estate
people are in their front gardens
sitting or pottering about in the sun
................................................................... Could you add a line here?
.................................................................. – and another here? Maybe families are out cycling?
We turn for home This is the middle line of the poem.
................................................................ Now reverse the two lines you wrote
................................................................ to continue the mirror poem.
sitting or pottering about in the sun
people are in their front gardens
In our estate
They wave
We cross the road
Someone is coming towards us
One car goes by
A blackbird startles out of a hedge
Is that a robin singing?
What's different? No sound of traffic
Open the front door and step through.
Now write your own mirror poem!
Here is another one of mine...
I Saw a Mermaid
I saw a mermaid
sitting on a rock,
looking in a mirror.
But it’s true,
the sun was dazzling
and the sea glittered.
Her tail flashed
like a silver fish.
Splash!
She was gone –
She was gone!
Splash!
Like a silver fish
her tail flashed
and the sea glittered,
the sun was dazzling –
but – it’s true!
Looking in a mirror,
sitting on a rock
I saw a mermaid.
I enjoyed putting a mirror in my mirror poem! Who do you think is looking in it?