Comment from Phyllis Stewart

Excellent

Wow! You not only wrote a long palindrome poem (hard enough to write a short one) but you put meaning into it from da Vinci! My guess is you're a genius, Kim. It's the only explanation. :)

 Comment Written 09-May-2016

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reply by the author on 09-May-2016

Hi Phyllis!
lol far from a genius, but thank you for the compliment... that man was a genius, and then some! I have a book on my shelf, Da Vinci's Notebooks, and I spent a couple of hours touring the Da Vinci exhibit the last time we went to Las Vegas. (much to the indulgence of my husband, mom, and step-dad, who weren't nearly as interested as I was lol) They had replicas of all his inventions, his art, writing, and notebooks... it was amazing. He really pioneered flight, so my brain just jumped from one thing to the next lol

I got part way through something that wasn't working for me and landed on Da Vinci :) Loved the review! Thanks!

Comment from foxangie123

Excellent

A very amazing and inspiring piece of poetry that reads lovliness all the way through and I love the picture as it is fantastic as well. Love your work.

 Comment Written 08-May-2016

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reply by the author on 08-May-2016

Thanks, Angie. I appreciate you taking the time to read and review.

Kim

Comment from Pantygynt

Excellent

Well you will get your five by tape measure. Anyone who can totally bamboozle me over that many lines has to be deep. The thing is it doesn't just have to make some sort of sense in both directions, it has to say the same thing, and since I am not quite sure what you are saying in one direction I cannot be sure that you are saying the same thing in the other direction.

But 'thought of love' and 'love of thought' are definitely not the same as I found out out when she gave up on me because I wouldn't come to bed being lost in my love of thought when I should have been ... oh never mind.

 Comment Written 08-May-2016

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reply by the author on 08-May-2016

Hi Pantygynt:

A tape measure it is then lol Here is an article that might interest you: http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3305&context=wordways

It gives a bit of a different perspective on word unit palindromes, which is what we are writing with our poems. (It gives latitude for the meaning to shift.) Lines in true palindrome form, of course, would be most nonsensical.

I also found an example of a line unit palindrome, which I hadn't seen before, but was quite intriguing. I think I'll have to bring it to Mikey's attention, just for kicks. It wouldn't be accepted, by definition, in any of the site palindrome contests, as their definition differs.

The following Line Unit Palindrome Poem reads from the first line to the last as it does from the last line to the first. It was written by James A. Lindon and was first published in Dmitri Borgmann's Beyond Language (1967).

Entering the lonely house with my wife
I saw him for the first time
Peering furtively from behind a bush ?
Blackness that moved,
A shape amid the shadows,
A momentary glimpse of gleaming eyes
Revealed in the ragged moon.
A closer look (he seemed to turn) might have
Put him to flight forever ?
I dared not
For reasons that I failed to understand,
Though I knew I should act at once.

I puzzled over it, hiding alone,
Watching the woman as she neared the gate.
He came, and I saw him crouching
Night after night.
Night after night
He came, and I saw him crouching,
Watching the woman as she neared the gate.

I puzzled over it, hiding alone ?
Though I knew I should act at once,
For reasons that I failed to understand
I dared not
Put him to flight forever.

A closer look (he seemed to turn) might have
Revealed in the ragged moon
A momentary glimpse of gleaming eyes
A shape amid the shadows,
Blackness that moved.

Peering furtively from behind a bush,
I saw him, for the first time
Entering the lonely house with my wife.

As for Da Vinci... I like this quote:

Those who fall in love with practice without science are like a sailor who enters a ship without a helm or a compass, and who never can be certain whither he is going.

I imagine he is (metaphorically) flitting from flower to flower like the birds and the bees, caught up in the moment of things.

I suppose I could have just described a bird or a bee in their relation to flight, but where is the fun in that? To stick faithfully to Da Vinci, I suppose I should have described a bat, but it didn't sound nearly so poetic. He did, however, do dynamic things in the area of flight. (And a multitude of other areas.)

It was just a bit of fun and I'm happy that you took the time to read and comment. :)

Kim

reply by Pantygynt on 09-May-2016

Yes this is interesting, but seems to me to be part of the general dumbing down that says if the rules make it awkward to do change the rules. We have seen it with haiku and now it is the palindromes turn. Of all the potlatch palindromes I read reckoned that only Dean Kuch's was 100% so it is possible. Anyway there is not to be a second bite at the cherry on this one apparently.

reply by the author on 09-May-2016

I'd just never seen it written anywhere that the meaning had to be the same forward and backward, only the words. I wasn't suggesting that it isn't possible, it is just boring. I mean, what's the point in a second section at all if you are only reiterating the first? You don't do that in a regular poem, as a general thing.

You are correct, Dean's was exactly the same, forward and backward, about burning witches, not flying ones lol so, off topic, but a fantastic palindrome.

I just thought the article went further to explain the word unit palindromes than any other that I've found online. If you have another that I should read, I'd be happy to have you send it along. :)

Kim

reply by Pantygynt on 09-May-2016

I have no authority except that of the OED: Palindrome - a word or sequence that reads the same backwards as forwards.
I think you are being hard on Dean saying he is off topic. Topic was 'things that fly' and, as everyone knows all witches can fly but find it difficult when tied to a stake for the burning. Lol.

reply by the author on 09-May-2016

I just meant nothing was flying in his poem lol those poor witches didn't get the chance, otherwise they may have gotten away from the flames ;) What a time to forget their broomsticks! lol Trust me, he got a glowing review. (and not just from the flames)

I get that 'reads the same' could be interpreted in that manner, but ok, a word, such as madam is a palindrome, but that has nothing to do with its meaning. And I don't think you can apply a meaning rule to any of the sentences I've read. (most don't make much sense at all lol) So, I guess my point is, if that held true, then one side of the sentence would have to be exactly the same as the other side of the sentence, not just the letters in reverse.

I'm not trying to argue, just to understand.

Bedtime for me now, though... 3 am lol

Have a great day!

Kim

reply by Pantygynt on 09-May-2016

I dont understand either, just that I don't like the damn things. Lol. Sleep well.

Comment from Barb Hensongispsaca

Excellent

I have discovered the words used will either mimic the first half or totally go a different way in the lasts half.
Yours took the second way and the way you used the words, totally gave us another piece.
Absolutely amazing

 Comment Written 08-May-2016

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reply by the author on 08-May-2016

Hi Barb!

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I've since discovered an interesting article on Palindromes: http://digitalcommons.butler.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3305&context=wordways

I appreciate your kind comments :)

Kim

Comment from Ima L. Ami

Excellent

You did an amazing job with this palindrome. It tells a great story of expanding the mind through love, poetry, and prose. I love the author's notes regarding Leonardo DaVinci, too. Great work!

 Comment Written 08-May-2016

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reply by the author on 08-May-2016

Hi Suzanne, (or is it Ima now?)

Have you permanently converted to Palindromes? lol Leonardo is one of the forefathers of flight and was a brilliant mind far beyond his time! Thank you for the fantastic review and for putting up all the links! I'm behind on reviews, but I'm hoping to catch up in the next day or two lol

Thanks!

Kim

reply by Ima L. Ami on 08-May-2016

Your very welcome! I'm trying to catch up this morning, lol, I fell asleep last night.

reply by the author on 08-May-2016

I fell asleep, too! lol I'm so far behind on reviews... I might catch up someday!

Comment from rama devi

Excellent

WOW--what a fantastic response to teh challenge. I love it. It works so well in both directions, with shifting line breaks that shift meanings too. This is accomplished seamlessly in all lines except the one with 'articulately arose':


poetry and prose quoted -
articulately arose.

This works well on the first half, and it shares fine assonance of O as well with poetry, prose and quoted. Love the alliteration too. However, on the way down in second half...



Philosophy or science -
Next comes what?

Arose articulately -
Quoted prose and poetry --


this does NOT work well because it is past tense right after WHAT COMES NEXT, which makes no sense, and it is grammatically forced as well.


I suggest using ARISING, as it would fit well in both directions


poetry and prose quoted -
articulately arising.

and

Philosophy or science -
Next comes what?

Arose articulately -
Quoted prose and poetry --


Great phonetic resonances in this fine flowing write. I love the alliteration of P in first stanza and consonance of S as well. The gerund-laden stanza here sound good read aloud with alliteration of F and consonance of D, L, T, W and S


Mingled delight,
fancy of flight,
twittering and singing,
jousting and winging,
fluttering and flitting.

NIce resonance on Bees and breeze.


Love the meaning too, of course!

Bravo.

Hugs, rd

 Comment Written 08-May-2016

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reply by the author on 08-May-2016

Hi rd!

You always have the best suggestions! :) (already implemented!) Thank you so much for this wonderful review, I always love to hear from you! I hope all is well in your world.

*Hugs*

Kim

reply by rama devi on 08-May-2016

Thanks for your always-gracious responses to my reviews, dear Kim. So glad to be of help and love hearing from you too. All is well (in heart and mind but body could be better...). Hope all is well in your world on all levels!

Hugs and Love, rd

PS Thanks for the thumb!

Comment from Pearl Edwards

Excellent

Wow what an epic Kim. Fabulous job. Your mind must have been buzzing in double quick time to get this Palindrome down. Well done, a great read,
cheers,
valda.

 Comment Written 08-May-2016

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reply by the author on 08-May-2016

Hi Valda,

Thank you so much for the fun review! :) Sometimes they just flow, other times not lol I got halfway into one that wasn't working for me and went another direction entirely lol fortunately, it worked out! Good thing I didn't give up part way in!

I appreciate all the kind comments! :)

Kim

Comment from Helen Bach

Excellent

Impressive and an accomplished palindrome and one of the longest that I've seen. The thought and work paid off so well with this unfolding poetic joy.

A difficult form so easily handled by your able pen.

Made more interesting by your additional notes on the enigmatic Da Vinci.

Bravo Kim x

 Comment Written 08-May-2016

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reply by the author on 08-May-2016

Hi Helen,

Da Vinci is so fascinating and one of the most brilliant men to have ever lived. Our challenge for the Potlatch was to write of something pertaining to flight, it just created itself from there. :) Thank you for this most wonderful review! I appreciate the kind comments.

Kim

Comment from brenda bickers

Excellent

Hi Dovey,
this is a really nice palindrome and so clever. you have managed quite a long poem that reads good either way. Sometimes it can loose it's way a little if it is to long but this is cool.
Brenda:))x

 Comment Written 08-May-2016

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reply by the author on 08-May-2016

Hi Brenda,

Thanks for taking the time to read and comment. I appreciate your wonderful review. Palindromes are always a challenge, I was just thrilled that the topic was so open to accommodate the form. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Kim

Comment from lightink

Excellent

You chose a magnificent description for a magnificent man's philosophy...
Or the impressions of his thoughts! This is extremely smooth... powerful and the very essence of the human soul unfolds layer by layer in this poem! Kim, you're unstoppable!

 Comment Written 08-May-2016

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reply by the author on 08-May-2016

Hi Jyoti:

He truly was one of the most prolific men of all time. I had the most amazing time on a trip to Las Vegas touring an exhibit of his inventions, his art, his writings and notebooks. Thank you for this most wonderful review. :)

Kim