Notes About The Poem

See my article for details:

The Spectacular New Poetic Form - Specular Fugue | PoetrySoup.com

Specular fugue poem

The Specular Fugue poem was inspired by the Palindrome (Sotades—3rd century BC) and Specular poem  (Julia Copus—early 2000s), and gives these tired forms a new lease of life.

In free verse.

  1. Two stanzas in equal number of lines.
  2. The 1st stanza may be mundane.
  3. The 2nd stanza repeats the lines of the 1st stanza in exact reverse line order (eg  the 1st line of the 2nd stanza lines up with the last line of the 1st stanza), BUT not identical in phrasing:
    1. 1. Each line refracts into fugue, i.e. an alternative ‘truth’ to the recall of an event.*

 

 

    1. 2. Includes one tether word or phrase (as demonstrated in my poem) from each of the corresponding lines.
    2. 3. The tenses may be changed to suit the poem, or the semantics, eg drapes and curtains (from my poem below).

* It introduces a layer of dissociation: each line in stanza two becomes an alternative truth, echoing the fugue state where recall is fragmented, unreliable, or emotionally reshaped.

NOTE: (Line 7) loud here means bright or gaudy.


 

If Memory Serves me Well

Collated papers filed and the bills paid
as the kettle whistled invitingly.  
My son’s laughter drifting in through the window—
I have forgotten to close the billowing drapes. 
A sempiteral tableau. 

An ephemeral scene crowds in:
The loud curtains tucking at my memory;
my son’s voice trapped in distress.  
The kettle whimpered as it boiled dry— 
old papers flutter in my periphery …
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025

Poem

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Hind Avatar
July 18, 2025 at 6:55 AM
Hey! I commented back on my last poem. :) Please check.
Richards Avatar
July 18, 2025 at 7:03 AM
Done :)
Hind Avatar
July 17, 2025 at 1:21 PM
This is amazing work, Suzette. Your own feelings mix with your readers - leaves an impression, metaphorically...and on the person :)
Richards Avatar
July 17, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Poetry hits in the deep recesses of the heart or gets under people's skin - either way: that is what poetry is for (to my mind). Thanks for the compliment, Paige.
Lamoureux Avatar
July 16, 2025 at 11:12 AM
I like the contrast between stanzas.
Richards Avatar
July 16, 2025 at 12:26 PM
I enjoy contrasts in poems - I find it intriguing to offset ideas/perspectives. Thanks for the visit, Rick.
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