Ditch the ads, upload images and much more - upgrade today from 5.95/month!
Read Contests Groups Learn Forums Store Help
 

Seasonable Roll Reversals

  

 Kindly refer to Notes

This composition has sought to explore linguistic potential.  Notes are thus found before rather than after the poem.

Six variations on a theme have been selected from many mathematical possibilities using THE SAME TEXT and a reverse mirror for each version. Mirrors repeat the seasons with lines in reverse order.

For the second roll the first four syllables of each line are reversed, and sense is retained both in the normal order of seasons and the reversed order as well ...

The 3rd and 4th variations offer ABAB rhyme schemes retaining the original text. The 5th and 6th variations modify the text into rhyming couplets.

Given the linguistical structure of this symphonic composition the score could be read in inversing each and every line and each and every hemistitch. There are minor punctuation differences between versions.

A mirrored Retourne - can be found after the 6th version - two variations on the theme have been included here but could have been extended as above.

 

Enjoy ! Smile

 

_______________________

 Seasonable Round Robin Role Reversal 

Seasonable Role Reversal Part I

 . 

Life is at ease, land under plough         

whispers, receives free-grazing cow.

Spring wave-wakes tree’s burgeoning bough,

soft-scented breeze, bees, blossom, now.  

.

Summer sends cheer, days fair and long,

cloudless and clear, life full of song.
To draw dear near, young lovers long,

sure, know no fear, symphony strong. 

.

Each leaf decays, each life must bow,

Fall’s salad days all ending now.

Fruit heavy lays bending the bough,

Autumn displays sunsets which wow.

. 

Harvested sheaves, hibernate hives,

trees stripped of leaves, Jack Frost has knives.

Time, Prince of thieves, onward he drives,

white Winter grieves over our lives.

.

_        _        _        _        _        _ 

.

White Winter grieves over our lives.

Time, Prince of thieves, onward he drives.

trees stripped of leaves, Jack Frost has knives.

Harvested sheaves, hibernate hives. 

.

Autumn displays sunsets which wow.

Fruit heavy lays bending the bough. 

Fall’s salad days all ending now,

Each leaf decays, each life must bow. 

Sure, know no fear, - symphony strong -

to draw dear near, young lovers long,

Cloudless and clear, life full of song.

Summer sends cheer, days fair and long.

.

Soft-scented breeze, bees, blossom, now,  

Spring wave-wakes tree’s burgeoning bough 

whispers, receives free-grazing cow.   

Life is at ease land under plough.                                                          

 Seasonable Role Reversal Part II

 

Land under plough, Life is at ease,

free-grazing cow whispers receives.

Burgeoning bough, Spring wave-wakes trees.

Bees, blossom; Now, soft-scented breeze. 

.

Days fair and long, Summer sends cheer,

life full of song, cloudless and clear,
Young lovers long to draw dear near,  -

symphony strong - sure, know no fear. 

.

Each life must bow, each leaf decays, 

All ending now. Fall’s salad days,  

bending the bough, fruit heavy lays.

Sunsets which wow Autumn displays. 

.

Hibernate hives, harvested sheaves,

Jack Frost has knives. Trees stripped of leaves.

Onward he drives, Time, Prince of thieves,

over our lives, white Winter grieves.

.

_        _        _        _        _        _ 

.

Over our lives white Winter grieves,

onward he drives, Time, Prince of thieves,

Jack Frost has knives. Trees stripped of leaves,

Hibernate hives, harvested sheaves. 

.

Sunsets which wow Autumn displays.

Bending the bough, fruit heavy lays,

all ending now, Fall’s salad days.

Each life must bow, each leaf decays. 

.

Symphony strong - sure know no fear –

young lovers long to draw dear near.

Life full of song, cloudless and clear,

days fair and long, Summer sends cheer.

.

Bees, blossom. Now, soft-scented breeze,

burgeoning bough, Spring wave-wakes trees.

Free-grazing cow whispers receives.

Land under plough, Life is at ease.

 Seasonable Role Reversal Part III

;

  

Life is at ease, land under plough, 

free-grazing cow whispers, receives.

Spring wave-wakes tree’s burgeoning bough,

bees, blossom, now, soft-scented breeze.

.

Summer sends cheer, days fair and long,

life full of song cloudless and clear.
To draw dear near, young lovers long, -

symphony strong sure, - know no fear. 

.

Each leaf decays, each life must bow,

All ending now, Fall’s salad days.

Fruit heavy lays bending the bough,

Sunsets which wow Autumn displays. 

.

Harvested sheaves, hibernate hives,

Jack Frost has knives, trees stripped of leaves.

Time, Prince of thieves, onward he drives,

over our lives white Winter grieves.

._        _        _        _        _        _ 

;

Over our lives white Winter grieves.

Time, Prince of thieves, onward he drives.

Jack Frost has knives, trees stripped of leaves.

Harvested sheaves, hibernate hives. 

.

Sunsets which wow Autumn displays.

Fruit heavy lays bending the bough.   

All ending now, Fall’s salad days,

Each leaf decays, each life must bow.

.

Symphony strong. Sure, know no fear,

to draw dear near, young lovers long.

Life full of song cloudless and clear,
Summer sends cheer, days fair and long.
 

.

Bees, blossom, now, soft-scented breeze. 

Spring wave-wakes tree’s burgeoning bough. 

Free-grazing cow whispers, receives.  

Life is at ease land under plough.

 Seasonable Role Reversal Part IV 

.

Land under plough, life is at ease,

whispers receives free-grazing cow

Spring wave-wakes trees, burgeoning bough,

soft-scented breeze Bees, blossom, - now. 

.

Days fair and long, Summer sends cheer,

cloudless and clear, life full of song,
Young lovers long to draw dear near,

sure, know no fear, - symphony strong. 

.

Each life must bow, each leaf decays, 

Fall’s salad days all ending now. 

Bending the bough, fruit heavy lays.

Autumn displays sunsets which wow. 

.

Hibernate hives, harvested sheaves,

Jack Frost has knives. Trees stripped of leaves.

Onward he drives, Time, Prince of thieves,

over our lives, white Winter grieves.

.

_        _        _        _        _        _ 

.

Over our lives white Winter grieves

onward he drives, Time, Prince of thieves,

Jack Frost has knives. Trees stripped of leaves,

Hibernate hives, harvested sheaves. 

.

Autumn displays sunsets which wow.

Bending the bough, fruit heavy lays, -

Fall’s salad days all ending now.

Each life must bow, each leaf decays. 

.

Sure, know no fear, - symphony strong -

young lovers long to draw dear near.

Cloudless and clear, life full of song,

Days fair and long, Summer sends cheer. 

.

Soft-scented breeze, bees, blossom, now,

Spring wave-wakes trees, burgeoning bough.

Whispers receives free-grazing cow.

Land under plough, life is at ease.

                                                       
 Seasonable Role Reversal Part V

.

Life is at ease, soft-scented breeze

whispers, receives. Spring wave-wakes tree’s

burgeoning bough. Bees, blossom, now.

Land under plough, free-grazing cow.  

.

Summer sends cheer, cloudless and clear.

Sure, know no fear, to draw dear near,

young lovers long symphony strong.

Life full of song, days fair and long.

.

Autumn displays Fall’s salad days.

Each leaf decays, fruit heavy lays

bending the bough, each life must bow,

Sunsets which wow all ending now. 

.

Harvested sheaves, trees stripped of leaves,

White Winter grieves. Time, Prince of thieves,

onward he drives over our lives.

Hibernate hives.  Jack Frost has knives. 

 .

_        _        _        _        _ 

.

Hibernate hives.  Jack Frost has knives,

onward he drives over our lives.

White Winter grieves Time, Prince of thieves.

Harvested sheaves, trees stripped of leaves. 

.

Sunsets which wow all ending now.

bending the bough, each life must bow,

Each leaf decays, fruit heavy lays

Autumn displays Fall’s salad days.  

.

Life full of song, days fair and long.
Young lovers long symphony strong.

sure, know no fear to draw dear near.

Summer sends cheer, cloudless and clear.

;

Life is at ease, soft-scented breeze.

Land under plough, free-grazing cow,

burgeoning bough, bees. Blossom now

whispers, receives. Spring wave-wakes trees.


Seasonable Role Reversal Part VI

.  

Bees, blossom, now, burgeoning bough,

free-grazing cow, land under plough.

Spring wave-wakes trees, whispers, receives,

life is at ease, soft-scented breeze.  

.

Cloudless and clear, Summer sends cheer.

To draw dear near, sure, know no fear,

symphony strong young lovers long.

Days fair and long, life full of song.

.All ending now - sunsets which wow -

each life must bow.  Bending the bough,

fruit heavy lays.  Each leaf decays.

Fall’s salad days Autumn displays. 

.

Jack Frost has knives, onward he drives

over our lives. Hibernate hives,

trees stripped of leaves, harvested sheaves.

Time, Prince of thieves. White Winter grieves.

 .

_        _        _        _        _ 

.

Time, Prince of thieves ! White Winter grieves -

trees stripped of leaves, harvested sheaves -

over our lives. Hibernate hives.

Jack Frost has knives, onward he drives.  

.

Fall’s salad days Autumn displays.

Fruit heavy lays,  each leaf decays,

each life must bow bending the bough.

All ending now sunsets which wow. 

.

Days fair and long, life full of song,

symphony strong  - young lovers long

to draw dear near, sure, know no fear.

Cloudless and clear, Summer sends cheer. 

;

Life is at ease, soft-scented breeze,

Spring wave-wakes trees, whispers, receives.

Free-grazing cow, land under plough,

bees, blossom, now, burgeoning bough.

.

____________

 Seasonable Retour-Knell I

Spring burgeons, breeze blows blossom, bees,

Summer sends cheer, days fair and long,

Autumn displays sunsets which wow,    

White Winter grieves over our lives. 

.

Summer sends cheer, days fair and long,

cloudless and clear, life full of song.
To draw dear near, young lovers long,

sure, know no fear, symphony strong.

.
Autumn displays sunsets which wow,    

fruit heavy lays bending the bough, 
each leaf decays, each life must bow,
Fall’s salad days all ending now.
.
White Winter grieves over our lives.

Harvested sheaves, hibernate hives,
Trees stripped of leaves, Jack Frost has knives.
Time, Prince of thieves, onward he drives.
.

____                       _____                     ___ 

.

Time, Prince of thieves, onward he drives.

Trees stripped of leaves, Jack Frost has knives.
Harvested sheaves, hibernate hives,
White Winter grieves over our lives. 

.

Fall’s salad days all ending now,

each leaf decays, each life must bow,

fruit heavy lays bending the bough, 
Autumn displays sunsets which wow.    

.

Sure know no fear, symphony strong,

to draw dear near, young lovers long.

Cloudless and clear, life full of song,
Summer sends cheer, days fair and long.

.
White Winter grieves over our lives.

Autumn displays sunsets which wow,    

Summer sends cheer, days fair and long,

Spring burgeons, breeze blows blossom, bees …   

.
 

 Seasonable Retour-Knell II

.

Spring burgeons, breeze blows blossom, bees,

days fair and long, Summer sends cheer.

Autumn displays sunsets which wow,    

Over our lives white Winter grieves.

.

Summer sends cheer, days fair and long,

life full of song, cloudless and clear, 
To draw dear near, young lovers long, -

symphony strong - sure, know no fear.
 .

Autumn displays sunsets which wow,    

bending the bough, fruit heavy lays. 
each leaf decays, each life must bow,
all ending now Fall’s salad days.

White Winter grieves over our lives.

hibernate hives, Harvested sheaves,
trees stripped of leaves, - Jack Frost has knives.
O
nward he drives, Time, Prince of thieves.
.

____                       _____                     ___ 

.

Onward he drives, Time, Prince of thieves.
Trees stripped of leaves, - Jack Frost has knives.
Hibernate hives,
Harvested sheaves,
White Winter grieves over our lives. 

.

All ending now, Fall’s salad days.

Each leaf decays, each life must bow,

bending the bough, fruit heavy lays.
Autumn displays sunsets which wow.    

.

Sure know no fear, symphony strong,

young lovers long to draw dear near,

Cloudless and clear, life full of song,
days fair and long, Summer sends cheer.


White Winter grieves over our lives.

Autumn displays sunsets which wow,    

Summer sends cheer, days fair and long,

Spring burgeons, breeze blows blossom, bees …

 

.

Author notes

notes precede poem
robi3_0069_robi3_0000 QXX_DNZ

In a list

A contest entry

    : , Your review:

    Comment Suggestion: What is your your first impression?
    Line numbers  • Invite them to read
    : no Cost: 0 free left 0 points, You have (?)

Comments

1 - 20 of 20

  • Mystic-Fire
    September 14

    Edit | Reply

    wow

    This is amazingly penned and I love the form you used here just excellent the rhyme and flow was masterfully done. Just beautifully written, It was way to hard to pick a favorite part as it was all wonderful, I like these the best but Autumn is my favorite season so it's not that much of a shock, lol.

    Autumn displays sunsets which wow,
    bending the bough, fruit heavy lays.
    each leaf decays, each life must bow,
    all ending now Fall’s salad days.

    I wouldn't change a thing, brilliantly done good luck in the contest!!

  • poster
    September 14

    Edit | Reply

    Masterful

    As maa mentions in her comment "in lack of words, I can just utter : "amazing" ...
    technically, what could I say but "masterful" ...
    and the message is of graceful simplicity ...
    I loved the meter you used, which gives your seasonal roll-reversals a solid base and structure - while your playful variations of the original poem suggest flexibility ..."

    Message integrity and deceptive simplicity combine and recombine in an impressive display of poetics


  • Tinselpool
    August 6

    Edit | Reply
    Wow, you gradually dissolved each season into the next, keeping in lovely rhyme for each role reversal part. You have an excellent way with words. I think you're best at nature poems. Never stop.
    Here's my favorite part:

    -Quote from Jonathan ROBIN's "Summer Day"-

    [Time, Prince of thieves, onward he drives.
    Trees stripped of leaves, Jack Frost has knives.
    Harvested sheaves, hibernate hives,
    White Winter grieves over our lives.]

    Best wishes,

    Claire




  • rainbows. gold member
    July 8

    Edit | Reply
    Wow. This is amazing, brilliant, lots of pretty adjectives. Thank-you very much for entering this piece into my contest.


  • BabyBun silver member
    June 27

    Edit | Reply
    ALthough I recognise the technical talent, this just wasn't for me I'm afraid. But I do appreciate and respect the entry!


  • sharptooth
    February 22

    Edit | Reply
    (i'm assuming this is the transitions option?)

    oh, my. that takes a lot to do, props to you. well the contest is only a max of 50 lines, so i'm just going to count the first poem

    but i have to say, you've got good stuff here. positive images of each season, and rhyme that really keeps it flowing throughout,

    thanks for entering


    • Jonathan ROBIN
      February 22
      Edit | Reply

      Seize on season's line count

      The poem itself is 16 lines, but it can be mirrored (read top down and bottom up) and each line can be inverted and remirrored, and of course lines within each season may be presented in alternative orders still mirrored and still retaining overall sense ... variations on a theme


      • sharptooth
        February 22
        Edit | Reply
        it's all good, haha, i think the mirroring concept is fantastic - i had never seen anything like that before


  • sora.
    September 13, 2008

    Edit | Reply
    well, that did take me a while to get through, but i can honestly say im glad to have read it all.
    this is, quite frankly, a masterpiece.
    good work + good luck!
    =]


  • Lily of the Valley
    November 13, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    A journey through your works is truly awe inspiring and I have come to expect nothing other than excellence in the content, rhythm, rhyme and forms which appear to command with natural ease. If your poems were the fireworks choreographed with a fantastic symphony to ring in a new century, they could not be more impressive than the choreography present on this page. To construct and sequence a series of poem such as is displayed here, is not only a talent but a real work of art for those who read it to admire. Each poem reads with logical sense and the beauty of the content is retained to be appreciated in all of them. “Impressive” understates this work completely and I’m lost for anything better to say.


  • Midnight Lace
    October 6, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    I stand amazed and nearly speechless by your endless talent. I love your word choices here. They speak to the very core of my being and inspire my own thought processes just as all good poetry should do. Thank you for sharing and best wishes to you. Keep that pen handy dear poet. ~Midnight Lace


  • HeavenScent4U
    October 4, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    this was incredibly long so i have to apologize for not reading the whole thing but this is about one of the most vivid poems i have ever read and not just in the imagery but also in the presentation wonderful piece of work here. best of luck in the contest. be well and be blessed


  • Florida Sunshine
    October 2, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    thats incrediable on how you twisted, and turned... and played with the parts of the piece. I understand the colors help the judge follow the form.... Smart~
    You can see the attention you've put into the piece, and remarkably regardless which part you're reading it still seems to flow.

    Thanks for entering my season contest ~ good luck to you!


  • katie-jo
    September 26, 2007
    Edit | Reply
    Wow. This is insanely long. It was very well done, and very descriptive of the seasons. I am not exceptionally talented at writing lengthy poetry and keeping people interested, nor do I have the attention span to read something unless I have to or it is worth reading. Great work.

    Thank you for entering and good luck in the contest.

    ~kate


  • maa gold member
    February 1, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    wow, it's in color now !

    phantastic !


  • Night Hope gold member
    January 30, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    Stunning, Scribe...completely impressive, utterly brilliant, a profoundly effective penning...Beautifully done, my Friend...Good luck in the contest... Wanda

  • maa gold member
    January 30, 2007

    Edit | Reply

    astonishing

    I must admit that your entry has astonished me beyond expectations ... in lack of words, I can just utter : "amazing" ...
    technically, what could I say but "masterful" ...
    and the message is of graceful simplicity ...
    I loved the meter you used, which gives your seasonal roll-reversals a solid base and structure - while your playful variations of the original poem suggest flexibility ...
    the metaphor of "the oak and the reed" would best symbolize my impressions ...
    your entry has definitely helped me to contemplate some facets of poetry which I haven't yet considered exploring ...
    thank you so much for your tremendous time and effort invested in this piece ...


    maa

  • PalmettoSky
    January 29, 2007

    Edit | Reply
    This will connect with a lot of people along with making the rest of us think within these lines with you.I can really relate to this - I think we all can to some extent! Excellent phrasing and poetic restraint combine to make this an accomplished poem--I thoroughly enjoyed this piece, well done! I am glad I read it. thanks for sharing. Keep up the great work. Best of wishes to you. good luck in all that you do....peace always in all ways.


  • Pamela A Lamppa silver member
    January 27, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    Captured!

    Each season is so rich and beautiful within this form and delightful rhyme scheme. I loved them all. A grand effort and labor of love for sure. Best of luck in this contest. These were amazing. ~Pam


  • jean-marc
    January 25, 2007
    Edit | Reply

    a festival!

    a poem of astonishing beauty. flowing in all azimuths, resonating like an orchestra composed of infinite voices, bouncing like a colourful waterfall. thank you for this extraordinarily creative music!

1 - 20 of 20