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 Cleave poetry in December. I think it might prove to be my biggest challenge—the next poem of the month I titled One More for the Road. The month has come to an end, and I’m getting the hang of writing Cleave Poetry.
One More for the Road
This restless sinner/ looking out upon the dark winter
Searching for a way to go/the ground is all blanketed with snow
The sky is getting dimmer/ a pot on the stove starts to simmer
My restlessness will start to grow/ best to stay here in the fire’s glow
There are miles to go before I sleep/ the drifts are getting deep
Impatience about to explode/ it’s warm here in my abode
Compromise doesn’t come cheap/ the world beyond my door will keep
The wanderer carried a heavy load/ I’ll stay here and write one more for the road
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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Wow. This poem makes my brain stretch in several ways at once — and that’s just reading it! Writing it must have been a significant challenge! I continue to admire your work very much (and enjoyed echoes of Robert Frost and Johnny Mercer in this particular poem…)
Thank you. These Cleave poems have been a challenge.