“A backward poet writes inverse”

“A backward(s) poet writes inverse” is a pun that has been printed on many T-shirts and GIFs.  Authorship of the joke is unknown, but the one-liner has been cited in print since at least 2002.
 
         
The Geek Culture Forums: The Joke Banks
Topic:  FW: Pun intended!
Snaggy
posted March 20, 2002 13:06
1. A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it is two-tired.
2. What’s the definition of a will? (It’s a dead giveaway).
3. Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
4. A backwards poet writes inverse.
 
21 July 2002, Atlanta (GA) Journal-Constitution, “The Vent,” pg. C2:
A backward poet writes inverse.
 
Google Groups: alt.hackers.malicious
A Backward Poet Writes Inverse
Mad Hatter©
11/5/02
On Wed, 06 Nov 2002 00:49:14 GMT, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (§¥¢|-|Ö)
wrote:
>http://www.superlaugh.com/1/uridiot.htm
   
Google Books
The Land Where My American Mother Died—Palermo, Sicily
By Bennett Fairorth
Lincoln. NE: iUniverse
2003
Pg. 256:
A backward poet writes inverse.
 
Google News Archive
8 May 2003, Philippine Daily Inquirer, “On the Road” by Aida Sevilla-Mendoza, pg. B11, col. 5:
TODAY’S BUMPER STICKER: A backwards poet writes inverse.
 
Google Books
Fun-E-Mail
By Dave Galey
Sun City, CA: Winlock
2005
Pg. 130:
A backward poet writes inverse.
 
Twitter
Jared
‏@jaredstill
A backward poet writes inverse.
5:14 PM - 4 Oct 2007
 
Google Books
HUMOR WHAT’S FUNNY?
By Frank MacHovec
Lulu Publishing (Lulu.com)
2008
Pg. 58:
A backward poet writes inverse.
 
Facebook
Grammarly
June 15, 2012 ·
A backwards poet writes inverse.
 
Google Books
Once Apun A Time:
A Rich, Historical and Sometimes Earthy Collection of Puns
Victoria, BA: FriesenPress
2015
By Robin Leech
Pg. 24:
A backward poet writes inverse.