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 poem notes for website small copy.jpeg

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?

Lucinda Jacob