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This Poem was Submitted By: Mark Andrew Hislop On Date: 2005-12-09 00:38:46 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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I am 20 years behind schedule: still,

here, at the true end of this poem, there really is some kind of hope. it’s vastly more important that I remember this now: and while it’s interesting that it had till lately slipped my mind to, without hesitation, reject unreasonable constraints, at fifteen, I somehow 'knew' my love had no proof unless it was written. no future without sex, at fourteen … I was so stunned … she insisted our love must have of all things, a cashed-up wallet ... Jennie was an 'overdeveloped' girl ... for instance, like years ago when I wrote poetry (under her duress) about the most striking things ... oddities that appear when I try to think/write backwards ... I've found that my memory’s consolations are full of "I feel myself getting closer to some kind of ‘source’": as far as this relates to my current poetry, I’ve got some catching up to do because, really, I know now that I am 20 years behind schedule. But eventually, my mind turns back on itself:

Additional Notes:
For anyone who's interested, now try reading the poem backwards, from the bottom line by line to the top.

This Poem was Critiqued By: Thomas Edward Wright On Date: 2006-01-03 22:27:30
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.63636
There is little else to occupy the mind this month. I shall ricochet tween the alpha and o- The mirror and the man holding the razor - The pith and woe of TPL. Condemned.

This Poem was Critiqued By: Lora Silvey On Date: 2006-01-02 00:47:40
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.94595
Mark, Very unusual, and yes I read it both ways. Would it surprise you to know that I read it backwards for understanding before I read your note. I often read them (poems) bottom to top...haven't a clue as to why, just do. Sometimes I gain more in-sight after having read them top to bottom--when I take them a step at a time from bottom to top...OK, enough, I'm making myself dizzy. I think that all of us think we are behind schedule from time to time, and I don't believe anyone is every truly on the time track they lay out for themselves. Some accomplishments are made far before our preception of when they should occur and in looking back at events often we understand them better when we are far distanced from them. I apologize if I'm speaking in riddles, just that life never follows a prescribed course or "the best laid plans of men and mice" so to speak. I applaud you for the writing (in both directions) exceptional in it's complex mapping. My Best to you in the New Year, Lora

This Poem was Critiqued By: Dellena Rovito On Date: 2005-12-31 16:33:40
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.86667
Mark, Interesting, it reads better backwards! Neat, a weird kind of talent. it’s vastly more important that I remember this now: and while it’s interesting that it had till lately slipped my mind to, without hesitation, reject unreasonable constraints, at fifteen, I somehow 'knew' my love had no proof unless it was written. This is very true, the past makes up our now. All our learned reactions we never remember the source! The problem we have is when something wrong happens causing us problems we don't resolve them, thus getting past them. Like attending to them, solving and then settling them. Then moving on we're not shadowed angd affected by them. I can use this thought and action, easily today for myself. And the natural rejection of unusual constraints: you evidently let this slip by you. {me to] And slipped into the situation blindsided not paying attention.. It's wonderful to not have stress so we sweep it under the rug.....then one day it blows clean and then we sweep it under from habit, repeating, repeating, repeating. When does the fun begin? never... And if we took the majority, we've all lost 20 or more years goofin off! I like this ......good job/got me going! Happy ny Dellena

This Poem was Critiqued By: stephen g skipper On Date: 2005-12-11 00:25:05
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Hi Mark I like this piece the concept of "playing it backwards", maybe not intended, has put me in mind of the myth that playing a particular song backwards, at a different speed and you get the hidden message, it never did, and how do you get a record to play backwards?. but this poem does! I was a tad confused when I read it through the first time but on following your direction it became a clearer poem. As to the content it to struck a chord within me. Sorry that this is not a constructive, as "try it this way", crit just thought i'd let you know it worked for me cheers, take care steve

This Poem was Critiqued By: arnie s WACHMAN On Date: 2005-12-09 23:07:50
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.00000
But you didn't write the title backwards~! I knew from the very beginning what you were getting at. Interesting none the less. Ah Jennie...I knew a gal like her once but she was 23 and I was 43. Those were the days! Seems to me she made you poet! After all, without her, your poetry wouldn't exist would it? A fun piece. Do I still deserve a 6? If your mind is turning back on itself then you are headed for the big A. Watch out my friend!

This Poem was Critiqued By: Thomas H. Smihula On Date: 2005-12-09 07:17:52
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 8.66667
I see you trying to do to much funcy work with this again a flip flop type of work. Yet the depth is something that brings the reader into it. Do not like the format but do like the wording (well most of it), Do like the premise of the backwards concept that is unique. The beginning is where you show how hard you are trying to make the presentation go backwards and loses some impact upon this reader. I would have liked to see you repeat the lines bringing you back to 15. Just this readers opinion. Has a good foundation yet a little disjointed.

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