Sephallian Reverse Sonnet

The Sephallian Reverse Sonnet

was invented in April, 2013 by poet Dennis Nguyen, aka Sephallia on Allpoetry.com.

The poem is generally presented as a quatrazain since it is intended to be read either from top to bottom, or from bottom up.  There is no prohibition to

presenting it in stanzas.

The DEFINING characteristic of this form is that when read in the normal fashion, the poem has a pessimistic tone, but when read from bottom to top, it becomes and optimistic poem.

The rhyme scheme is abcdeedcbaffa and may optionally be written as a refrain sonnet as A1bcdeedcbA2ffA2A1.

Meter and line-length are at the poet's discretion.

Volta, which is recommended, but not demanded, can occur anywhere between L4 and L11. The poem can have one in each direction.

This is a challenging and rewarding form.

Example Poem

A Measure of Character(Sephiallan Reverse Sonnet)

What you are told in confidence

if you hold secret to your breast

reward will flow in unknown ways.

An urge to propagate a tale

to pique the interest of a friend

there can surely be no good end

when confidences you assail

a gentle whispered word betrays

when silence serves your honor best

Your revelation makes no sense

I'll never trust my thoughts with you

if other's secrets you will spew

If rumors gain some cognizance

From what you're told in confidence .

© Lawrencealot - April 15, 2013

Visual  Template

The template below represents an Iambic tetrameter

sonnet, without  a refrain.  the shaded lines indicate

where the refrains would occur if one were chosen.

Transitive Sonnet

This is a sonnet form created by Larry Eberhart, aka Lawrencealot
which has its roots the non-sonnet form Monometric.

It is a chameleon type sonnet, because it CANNOT be identified by looking at its apparent rhyme scheme.

It is Stanzaic with couplets and tercets enveloping a quatrain
Meter is of the poet's choice
Line length is 8 to 13 syllables (accommodating feminine rhyme)
Recommended: Iambic  tetrameter or pentameter
Rhyme scheme: aa bbb cccc bbb aa

The sonnet takes its name from the fact that the second occurrence of rhyme set may have its true rhyme sound changed by the use of any device such as slant rhyme (heart, star or milk, walk),assonance, consonance,  eye rhyme (date, temperate), or heteronyms.

Note: such rhymes may be used anytime or never.   Transition is NOT required, only ALLOWED.

Example Poem

Child

I'm saving treasures in a dresser drawer:
a diaper pin, the little shoes you wore
with jingles in the laces, a barrette
still clasping strands of wispy hair. They whet
my hankering for things I can't forget.

Before our paths converged, I held a view
of easy, unobstructed passage through
the challenges of motherhood. I knew
exactly what to do at twenty-two.

But that was long before my stumbling feet
were pressed into the coals, the searing heat
of constant battle forcing my retreat.
And though you've plunged my heart into despair
a thousand nights, I can't forget to care.

(c) Mary Sullivan Boren  - March, 2013

Visual Template