This poem is for a dVerse poetry challenge, to write a poem with epiphora or epistrophe. According to dictionary.com, epistrophe is, “the repetition of a word or words at the end of two or more successive verses, clauses, or sentences.”
Franco, a little doggy I care for several days a week.
I have been writing some short stories lately, and though I am late for National Poetry Month, have been in the mood over the past few days to experiment with different poetry forms. I am always in the middle of a longer creative writing project, so it has been nice to write some shorter pieces and put out a piece of creative writing more often.
I came across this challenge by DVerse to write a palinode. As described on their page, “A palinode or palinody is an ode or song that retracts or recants a view or sentiment to what the poet wrote in a previous poem.” It’s possible to do the poem and its recanting in a two-part poem which is what I chose to do.
I’m not sure my form is flawless — poem people, be gentle — but maybe light, comic verse gives me more leeway?
I’m showing off my lovely mismatched staying-at-home outfit in this pic, but it’s a good example of Franco being a darling.
This silly ditty below, by Gelett Burgess in 1895, was shared on DVerse’s page as an example of a poem with palinode, and I liked it so much I’ll share it here.
“I never saw a purple cow. I never hope to see one. But I can tell you anyhow I’d rather see than be one.”
Later in life, Burgess wrote —
“Ah yes, I wrote the purple cow! I’m sorry now I wrote it! But I can tell you anyhow, I’ll kill you if you quote it!”
