ON 2020
by Marie Elena
This year destroyed us.
I’ll never be convinced that
We can survive this.
There’s no going back.
I know it. So don’t tell me
Better times will come.
God no longer cares.
Hear me. Do not believe that
God is in control.
© Marie Elena Good, 2020
This poem is 3 stanzas. Each stanza has 17-syllables (5/7/5). This is my first ever attempt at a Reverse format poem. (Read the poem from the top line, down … and then read it from the bottom line, up.)
pictured words 
Holy smokes, Marie! Just like Sheryl, I read this and thought, “Oh, no. This is depressing and doesn’t sound like Marie at all! I wonder what happened. I hope she hasn’t fallen into despair and hopelessness and is suffering.” (I know about that all too well).
But then I read the directions, and am I glad I did. What a relief! I suppose you could have started with the directions instead of “sneaking” them in at the bottom. 😉 But had you done that, I think your poem’s effect on the reader would have been lessened. And what a great bit of writing you’ve created here! I think it’s one of your best.
Oh my! Thank you for the kind words, David! I’m glad you did read it bottom-up. I hope you are doing well, and had a lovely Christmas with the grands! Truly hoping 2021 brings much better days. Miss you!
Wow! When I read it the first time I thought this did not sound like you. I’m glad for the correct meaning from reading it from the bottom up. You did an excellent job with this form.
Thank you so much, Sheryl! There is a part of me that is concerned that folks won’t bother to read it in reverse, and will get the wrong impression.