As I am following prompts from two communities, here’s the day 3 prompt given by Maureen: 

Find a shortish poem that you like, and rewrite each line, replacing each word (or as many words as you can) with words that mean the opposite. For example, you might turn “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” to “I won’t contrast you with a winter’s night.” Your first draft of this kind of “opposite” poem will likely need a little polishing, but this is a fun way to respond to a poem you like, while also learning how that poem’s rhetorical strategies really work. (It’s sort of like taking a radio apart and putting it back together, but for poetry).

 I have chosen the poem titled “Success is counted sweetest” written by Emily Dickinson

 

Success is counted sweetest (1859)

Success is counted sweetest

By those who ne’er succeed.

To comprehend a nectar

Requires sorest need.

 

Not one of all the Purple Host

Who took the Flag today

Can tell the definition

So clear of Victory

 

As he defeated – dying – 

On whose forbidden ear

The distant strains of triumph

Break, agonized and clear.

 

Emily Dickinson

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Here’s my reverse poem, not sure if it makes true sense 🙂

 

Poem: Failure is counted bitterest

 

Failure is counted bitterest

By those who always fail

To misinterpret the poison

Doesn’t require sweetest need

Each one of the Purple Host

Who didn’t take the Flag today

Cannot tell the definition

So vague of Defeat

As he who won and lived

On whose permissible ear

The close strains of failure

Conjoin, joyous and vague.

 

©Vandana Bhasin

03.04.2023