Poetry Friday is with Violet.
This week my students and I have been reading and writing about fairy tales. They enjoyed hearing Sleeping Ugly by Jane Yolen. We also read aloud reverso poems by master Marilyn Singer in Mirror, Mirror.
“Writing a reverso is stressing me out. How did she write a whole book of them?” said Emily as we worked together to write a reverso for Sleeping Ugly. Yes, it was tough. But we were happy with our results. (Formatting has been another challenge.)
Sleeping Ugly
Plain Jane
On the outside,
beauty sleeps
lying still
finds
the Prince
wandering through the woods.
He knows
beauty
lies within.Miserella
Lies within.
Beauty
he knows
wandering through the woods,
the Prince.
Lying still,
beauty sleeps
on the outside.
Andrew worked on his own and created this reverso about Pirates
Don’ Steal me Booty
Here’s the truth Forever I have it
I have the treasure I shall battle
An ordinary treasure Or I have to let it go
Give it up never
never Give it up
I have to let it go An ordinary treasure
I shall battle I have the treasure
Or forever you have it Here’s the truth
Kaiden enjoys word play in his poem about “Fairy Fales (not a mistake)”
Magical stories, forever to be told.
Fairies,princes,and eggs made of gold
Talking toads, yellow brick roads,
stories happy and Grimm
Evil queens, horrible dreams
Long sleep, what a treat
In a palace, standing bold
Slaying trolls
Magical stories, forever to be told.
Reflections on the Teche 
oooooooooooooooooooooooh, I have a thing for the reverso format. Just love Plain Jane and Miserella. Bravo to you AND Emily!
Wow! Please tell your students how very clever I think they are! It is a hard (but fun) format and these are wonderful.
What fun, and terrific to see that your students were ready for this big challenge. They did wonderfully, Margaret!
What fun to use a poetic form to pare fairy tales down to their essential magic.
Ha, Miserella! Great name, and wonderful work from all the students here. I have yet to write a reverso that pleases me. What a challenge!Thank you for sharing, Margaret. xo
Talented and persevering students you have there, Margaret! I like the sound of “Talking toads, yellow brick roads.”
What a great thing to do to the brain! I can see why Emily felt exhausted. Thanks for sharing these!
Well done, and definitely a great work out for the old poetry brain! It can definitely be refreshing to challenge yourself to try something new…even if it just reminds you why you prefer certain styles after all! 🙂
All these poems are terrific! Thanks for sharing.
I am impressed! One day I’ll try the reverso form. One day.
So love your students’ work, Margaret. That you managed a joint reverso is quite amazing.
What magic your students create! Sleeping Ugly… Wow! Reversos are a joy to read but so challenging. Thank you and thank your students!
I love how you bring most everything you do back to poetry!
Poems to be proud of! I am in awe.
I, too, find “Miserella” to be a great name. In and of itself it brings to mind a whole story. What clever students you have!
These are terrific, Margaret. And although it’s not a reverso, I love how Kaiden weaves so many fairy tale elements into his poem.
Reversos are indeed a challenge, Margaret. Your students seemed to do well with this format.
Thanks for sharing this impressive work from your students! I’m so impressed with their reverso work. I find that format delightful to read and mind-bending to write! Kudos to all you!
Excellent work, and I agree with Emily–reversos are a stressful challenge, very different from the flowing expression of whatever’s on your heart. Still, I think all of these came out very well, especially Kaiden’s overview.
Nice work, indeed.
Such a great idea to challenge yourself to think outside the box and try your hand at a new poetry form – for students it can be such an inspiring and confidence-building experience to try and succeed at a new challenge!
Oh, gosh, these are just fantastic! I have a thing for fairy tale poems and did my best in my own collection. They sure are fun!