Why aren’t more poets writing palindromes?  In fact, why aren’t more dietitians and shoe salesman writing palindromes?

I’ll tell you why — because of the fucking Internet!  Certain obsessive websites have compiled such intimidating palindromes that most amateurs take one gander and give up!

I warn you, stay away from www.fun-with-words.com, with such showy confections as:

A man, a plan, a canoe, pasta, heros, rajahs, a coloratura, maps, snipe, percale, macaroni, a gag, a banana bag, a tan, a tag, a banana bag again (or a camel), a crepe, pins, Spam, a rut, a Rolo, cash, a jar, sore hats, a peon, a canal Panama!

But I refuse to be silenced, by the self-proclaimed palindrome pashas!  Why, just three days ago I wrote:

Peel’s Royal Pizza; Jazz I play, or sleep.

Gradually, I am discovering my own style as a palindromist.  For one thing, I have an interest in politics:

Wed not Sis, Bush! Subsist on dew.

Also, I obsess on somewhat outdated pop bands:

Seek no Monkees.

And I show a willingness to go beyond “normal” syntax:

Naples Aesop xenon Expos easel pan

Plus I compose the rare two-word sentence (usually imperative):

Strafe farts!

“Hey, you’re right!  I want to start inventing palindromes right away!” I hear you enthuse.  Well, a good place to begin is with “artificial palindromes”.  These are phrases which may be reversed without the average reader noticing.  For example:

Never say this aloud: “Duo lasih tyas reven”!

Or:

My favorite Welsh village is Iegallivhslewetirovafym.

So get started!  And send those 21st-century palindromes to me at