She Stood Waiting…

Instructions for this contrapuntal form (see below for a definition): Read through once. Then start at Line 1 and read every other line. Restart at Line 2 and read every other line.

Visage of hope
Posted at the corner
Bright eyes watching
Fighting desperation
Train comes in
Tracks rattle omens
Horn sounding arrival
Departure imminent
Promising future
Realistically grim
Open heart and mind
Unsettled spirit

I was first introduced to a contrapuntal poem the other day on Twitter, and I didn’t even know what it was called. I just thought it was an interesting and complex form that could tell a different story, or create a different image, when read in it’s multiple parts. According to Writer’s Digest, contrapuntal poems intertwine two separate poems into a cohesive composition where a line from the first poem precedes a line from the second.

I took the photo of this woman standing outside the alley that leads to a burlesque show in Skagway, Alaska. I imagined that she was out there to drum up an audience for the show, but then thought, she could also represent a moment in time when someone is lying in wait. We don’t know what she’s waiting for, but she is there, looking toward the railway station. The fully intertwined poem is meant to give the sense of her conflicted heart. The poem that starts on line one demonstrating hope for the future. The other, starting on line two, demonstrating the reality that the future for a woman of the time in that place was bleak.

I hope my poem captured the emotions I was trying to convey. If you liked it, and want to follow more of my writing, check out my website for information about my poetry collection and forthcoming books. You can also find me sprinkling poetry all over social media. If you’re a fellow poet and want to try this form, please tag me somewhere. I’d love to read what you create.