Arostic Poems

Though I do view most of these poems as being used for children in the modern world, it is interesting how Arostic Poems have been used as insults so that the government or object that they are discussing will not be decoded. I also found some works that I never thought would be put in this category of poetry, or that I never realized used the first letters to spell something out.

"A Boat, Beneath the Sunny Sky"
Lewis Carrol

A boat, beneath a sunny sky
Lingering onward dreamily
In an evening of July -

Children three that nestle near,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Pleased a simple tale to hear -

Long has paled that sunny sky:
Echoes fade and memories die:
Autumn frosts have slain July.

Still she haunts me, phantomwise,
Alice moving under skies
Never seen by waking eyes.

Children yet, the tale to hear,
Eager eye and willing ear,
Lovingly shall nestle near.

In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die:

Ever drifting down the stream -
Lingering in the golden gleam -
Life, what is it but a dream

The poem spells out Alice's name. I thought that was interesting.