I am a Sage, bearing infinite wisdom
Or perhaps winding down swirling incense tricks me
Has my mind going counterclockwise
Doing loopty-loops
Herbaceous sage wand, not marijuana
Heightens my intentions
Clears my space, clears my mind
Smoke smudged, four corners
Provides editorial notes
Red-breasted Nuthatch taps
At a cracked window
Woody aroma befriends passerine
Yank-Yank, its hornlike call
Summons a sill-side trio
Flame belly fowl
Lures me with squeaky tin rolls
Nearby tree antics; window view
Nuthatch downward bole walking
Stirs the pot, making me consider
Self-acclaimed folly, fizzled outlook
Ruminating on the benefits and drawbacks
Inspired by Earthbound Angels
Spiritual light blinks
Clarity, inner truth, curiosity
Internal fire subsides; rechanneling
Clarity, inner truth, curiosity
Spiritual light blinks
Inspired by Earthbound Angels
Ruminating on the benefits and drawbacks
Self-acclaimed folly, fizzled outlook
Stirs the pot, making me consider
Nuthatch downward bole walking
Nearby tree antics; window view
Lures me with squeaky tin rolls
Flame belly fowl
Summons a sill-side trio
Yank-Yank, its hornlike call
Woody aroma befriends passerine
At a cracked window
Red-breasted Nuthatch taps
Provides editorial notes
Smoke-smudged four corners
Clears my mind, clears my space
Heightens my intentions
Herbaceous sage wand, not marijuana
Doing loopty-loops
Has my mind going counterclockwise
Or perhaps winding down swirling incense tricks me
I am a Sage, bearing infinite wisdom
~
Author's note: I attempted a Palindrome poem for this challenge, also known as a "mirror poem." This effect provides two sides of the same story.
Red-breasted Nuthatch is a curious character, and one of the few birds that walk headfirst down a tree trunk; hence, one of its spiritual meanings is the ability to see things from different perspectives.
About the Creator
Marilyn Glover
Poet and editor, writing to uplift humanity; working on her debut poetry collection to be released in 2026.
British American dual citizen living in the States. Mother of four, grandmother of two.
Owner of The Quiet Collective
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More stories from Marilyn Glover and writers in Poets and other communities.
At My Wits’ End
Life is about taking out the trash and calling it trash because you have every reason to. It wasn't meant to be linear, they say. But the times you tried to make it straight led to problems, and you didn’t have the tools to put any of it to use. You don't put your right shoes on the right feet; you put the left shoes on the left feet. The grey hardened slab will trip you up anyway.
By Caitlin Charlton7 days ago in Humans
Comments (5)
This is such a beautifully layered palindrome. I love all the sensory details.
Palindromes aren't easy, yet you make them look like a breeeeeeeeeze ^_^.
This is a really creative poem one the spicy sweet side of living our lives and really listening to nature and ourselves. Good job.
I love the sensory imagery, I could almost see the smoke and smell the sage. Good luck with the challenge❤️
You nailed this soooo brilliantly! Loved your poem!