As I am following prompts from two communities, here’s the day 3 prompt given by Maureen:
Find a shortish poem that you like, and rewrite each line, replacing each word (or as many words as you can) with words that mean the opposite. For example, you might turn “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” to “I won’t contrast you with a winter’s night.” Your first draft of this kind of “opposite” poem will likely need a little polishing, but this is a fun way to respond to a poem you like, while also learning how that poem’s rhetorical strategies really work. (It’s sort of like taking a radio apart and putting it back together, but for poetry).
I have chosen the poem titled “Success is counted sweetest” written by Emily Dickinson
Success is counted sweetest (1859)
Success is counted sweetest
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.
Not one of all the Purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory
As he defeated – dying –
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Break, agonized and clear.
Emily Dickinson
Here’s my reverse poem, not sure if it makes true sense 🙂
Poem: Failure is counted bitterest
Failure is counted bitterest
By those who always fail
To misinterpret the poison
Doesn’t require sweetest need
Each one of the Purple Host
Who didn’t take the Flag today
Cannot tell the definition
So vague of Defeat
As he who won and lived
On whose permissible ear
The close strains of failure
Conjoin, joyous and vague.
©Vandana Bhasin
03.04.2023
I like this, Vandana! Well done.
Thanks much dear Punam!
Nice job, Vandana! I, too, turned to Emily… She’s always there, isn’t she? We’re lucky to have her, I think.
Emily is my all time favourite 🙂 So happy to know you like her work too. Thanks for sharing this and for commenting.
Hi Vandana. I’m drawn to this line: “So vague of Defeat” — perhaps there’s more to explore here.
Hey Arti. I’m glad it resonated with you. Thanks for stopping by 🙂