Poem and Palinode
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.
A Doggo and His Ball
1.
Franco is a funny boy,
Doggo with a favorite toy.
Balls are this doggo’s delight,
Which he dreams of day and night.
His fixation is annoying,
For the while he is enjoying,
the ball it bounces, skips and places
self into inconvenient spaces.
Only a hooman on her knees,
Face, hands or belly can retrieve
beloved bally from its snares
Under sofas, seats, beds or chairs.
2.
Did I say my darling was a pest,
Just because he gives me little rest?
Maybe I did, but only in jest.
© 2021 Susan Joy Clark
I’m not sure my form is flawless — poem people, be gentle — but maybe light, comic verse gives me more leeway?
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!”