Poet Marilyn Singer invented the reverso, a poem that can be read either from the top down or the bottom up. Changes in punctuation and capitalization make it a completely different poem. For example, the first version of "Bears in the News" starts with this headline: "ASLEEP IN CUB'S BED, / BLONDE / STARTLED BY / BEARS" and the second version ends with this headline: "BEARS STARTLED / BY BLONDE / ASLEEP IN CUB'S BED."
Cheerful illustrations by Canadian artist Josee Masse add to the charm. My favourite reverso is the one about little red riding hood: "In the Hood." Check it out on Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast website.
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