Sotto Poet Poet Quatrain

Gleam and Gloom

Written: June 26, 2026, for a contest sponsored by Joseph May

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More bright than brain, the mirror gleams,
yet darkness hides, within its beams;
dazzling light now, adorns the pane —
the mirror gleams, more bright than brain.

Clear heat or blood, with facet glow,
grace adorns pane, dazzling light now —
yet truth reminds, grief hits with thud;
with facet glow, clear heat or blood,

Kaleidoscope scenes — plague the mind,
Grief hits with thud, yet truth reminds
this grim, brooding day, does it mean —
plague the mind — kaleidoscope scenes

From true figure— how mirrors stray,
does it mean — this grim, brooding day;
the silver glass might grant veneer —
how mirrors stray, from a true sphere

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Sara Kendrick July 3, 2026 at 3:30 PM Some alliteration in the title. Reads like a good one for the contest, Lasaad. Way to go. Thank you for sharing this one. I see you used some kind of repeat pattern in the stanzas. Sara K.

Andrea Dietrich June 29, 2026 at 11:39 AM Love the polar opposites here of gleam and gloom. I had a heck of a time keeping straight what I was doing when I wrote my double swap . Yours is sure deeper than mine. (Not yet posted). Very fine imagery here

Paige Hind June 28, 2026 at 9:27 PM this is amazing work, Sotto...such skill to write, wow :)

Angela Terry June 28, 2026 at 8:19 PM I sometimes wonder just how accurate most mirrors truly are. Excellent imagery here.

sara Etgen-Baker June 27, 2026 at 4:44 PM as I read your poem, I was reminded how our mirrors speak to us, sometimes silently but powerfully. I especially liked aleidoscope scenes — plague the mind, Grief hits with thud, yet truth reminds this grim, brooding day, does it mean plague the mind — kaleidoscope scenes Your authenticity shines in this poem :-) best wishes with this contest entry.

Darlene De Beaulieu June 26, 2026 at 4:50 PM Hello Scotto, i guess that even the reflections have a bad start for the day. do you speak to your reflection ? I tell m y refelcttion to have a good day. i greet my freflection every morning. this is how i begin my day. Scott have a nice evening my friend. /Darlene/