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.