Friday, May 6, 2016

Poetry Friday: Echo Echo


Echo Echo: Reverso Poems about Greek Myths (2016). Marilyn Singer has done it again! If you have not yet read either of her two previous poetry books: Mirror, Mirror and Follow, Follow, then you are in for a treat. These "reverso" poems will blow you away. Not only are they interesting an engaging poems in their own right, but they can be read in two ways: from top to bottom and from bottom to top. You have to see one to truly understand (click on the image to see it larger).


You can help but be both immediately amazed and inspired. Each poem is like a delicately-crafted jigsaw puzzle, with the pieces falling into place to create two contrasting points of view around a familiar story or myth.

I shared this poem with my students last week during our regular Poetry Friday time, and several of them decided to take up the challenge of writing their own reverso poems. I am delighted to share a few of their efforts here.

Cold Air, by: Gretta

Breathe breathe through the winter.
The smell of the cold smooth air.
Let it peacefully go through your nose.

Let it peacefully go through your nose.
The smell of the cold smooth air.
Breathe breathe through the winter.


Reverso, Yoda Translation, by: Nathaniel

Force you must learn
To become Jedi
When Jedi you are, awesome like a boss you will be

When Jedi you are, awesome like a boss you will be
To become Jedi
Force you must learn

Voldemort and Harry, by: Ava and Leila

Fear me
When I touch you
Pain you will feel
I shall kill you!

I shall kill you!
Pain you will feel
When I touch you
Fear me

Echo Echo proved so popular in our classroom that it made it to the championship round of our April Poetry Madness. Several students shared their thoughts about why it was their favorite:


  • "Echo, Echo inspired me to write reverso poems, and I think that reverso poems are so cool, the way that they are different and the same and beautiful!"
  • "Two voice poems are my favorite!"

Have you ever tried a reverso poem?

7 comments:

  1. These are wonderful, Katie. Congrats to the students who tried them. I found them challenging when I wrote, too. Marilyn Singer's books are marvelous.

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    1. Thanks, Linda! The kids were really enthused about the challenge of it all.

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  2. These are terrific, Katie! I especially love the surprising modern day interpretations. Did you see my Echo roundup from last month? http://michellehbarnes.blogspot.com/2016/04/april-dmc-wrap-up-giveaway.html
    We've moved on to May now, so it's too late to include these, but Laura Shovan has given us our challenge for May if your students are keen to participate. http://michellehbarnes.blogspot.com/2016/05/spotlight-on-laura-shovan-dmc-challenge.html

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    1. Thanks, Michelle. No, I had not seen your roundup, how cool! I actually just got my copy of The Last Fifth Grade today, so we shall see if any of my kiddos respond to the challenge. Thanks!

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  3. Thanks for joining our Poetry Friday fun this week! I am also a big fan of Marilyn Singer's reverse poems, but I hadn't seen any attempts by kids to write them. Cool! Thanks for sharing them.

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    1. Thanks, Sylvia! Using "yoda speak" as a workaround was probably my favorite inventive way to make reverso work.

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  4. I super love this series, Katie. I have yet to find this latest one, though. :)

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