I first saw Cleave Poetry on Ben Alexander’s wonderful blog, so I did a little research. This style of poetry, created by Dr. Phvoc-Tan Diep, is three poems combined into one with two contrasting views. The reader must read the right side of the poem. Then the left side of the poem. Finally, they must read all the lines to catch the entire meaning. I decided to try this style of poetry for December. I think it might prove to be my biggest challenge—the next poem of the month I titled Light Wars. This one was hard to write because it explores our Grinch tendencies.
Light Wars
A week after Thanksgiving/my heart shutters with misgiving
Lights lit up galore/our city starts the Christmas light war
Who can have the biggest and best/ which means I won’t get any rest
Christmas lights strung from every tree/ the Brown’s aren’t like they used to be
Stabled to house and to roof/ the Miller’s rumored to be bulletproof
Blinking and sparkling in the night/ the Wilson’s finally got theirs right
Santa’s reindeer are out of the gate/ but Rooster and I refuse to participate
Christmas carols all through the town/ and last year we almost burnt the house down
Who is Molly Shea?
Molly Shea is an accomplished fictional short story writer from Indiana who writes short stories and novels about a fictional town called Tecumseh. To read more of her short stories and adventures, click here.
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I have never been so grateful for the single string of lights from the house across the street.
Thank you.
You rocked this. Wow. You’re learning from the best. I love Ben Alexander. He’s got a big heart.
Thanks for sharing.
Thank you. Ben is awesome.