The Point of No Return

A reversible poem for National Poetry Month

Image: Tasha Marie via Unsplash+

For day 13 of the National Poetry Month challenge hosted by

V. Walker | Poet

, the task was to write a reversible poem.

Reversible poems have different meanings when read forward and in reverse. I’ve written my poem in both directions below for easier reading.

Enjoy!

---

Side A: Departure

Surrounded by white sheets. 
Lying in a cold, sterile bed. 
Do I stay or should I go? 
Feet on the ledge. 

Now I can feel my own heartbeat. 
Electricity flows in my veins. 
Nurses scrambling all around me. 
Wait, I can't feel my heartbeat. 

My mind is racing. 
All my life on a loop. 
Frantic, desperate, searching. 
Seeking just a kernel of truth. 

Suddenly, nothing matters. 
My perspective is limitless. 
All my problems seem small. 
I bathe in infinite peace. 

Floating above my body. 
The point of no return. 
Death offering its hand. 
This wasn't part of my plan. 

Sailing across the cosmos,
all my burdens left behind.
A glimpse of what lies beyond,
a meeting with the divine. 

This is not all that we are, 
Realms above and below. 
Experiencing what's to come. 
The soul's journey has just begun. 

Now, let’s read that again in reverse…

Side B: Arrival

The Soul's journey has just begun. 
Experiencing what's to come. 
Realms above and below. 
This is not all that are. 

A meeting with the divine,
a glimpse of what lies beyond. 
All my burdens left behind,
sailing across the cosmos. 

This wasn't part of the plan. 
Death offering its hand. 
The point of no return,
floating above my body. 

I bathe in infinite peace. 
All my problems seem small. 
My perspective is limitless. 
Suddenly, nothing matters. 

Seeking a kernel of truth. 
Frantic, desperate, searching. 
All my life on a loop. 
My mind is racing. 

Wait, I can't feel my heartbeat. 
Nurses scrambling around me. 
Electricity flows through my veins. 
Now I can feel my heartbeat. 

Feet on the ledge. 
Do I stay or should I go? 
Lying in a sterile bed.
Surrounded by sheets. 

---

Thanks for Reading! Here’s Your Musical Pairing

Listen to this after reading. Like pairing a glass of wine with dinner.