Pantoum
The pantoum is a poem of indefinite length
made up of stanzas whose four lines are repeated in a pattern: lines 2 and 4 of
each stanza are repeated as lines 1 and 3 of the next stanza, and so on as shown
below.
___________________________(Line 1)
___________________________(Line 2)
___________________________(Line 3)
___________________________(Line 4)
___________________________(Line 5) - same as line 2
___________________________(Line 6)
___________________________(Line 7) - same as line 4
___________________________(Line 8)
___________________________(Line 9) - same as line 6
___________________________(Line 10)
___________________________(Line 11) - same as line 8
___________________________(Line 12)
And so on...
Part of the pleasure of the pantoum is the way its recurring lines gently and hypnotically twine in and out of one another, and the way they surprise us when they fit together in unexpected ways. Write a pantoum comprised of 6-8 stanzas, with meaningfully intertwined lines. Try to create an unexpected juxtaposition between the lines to achieve surprise or irony.
Example from Christopher Lane:
A man outside my window
The
cat meowed and purred
I kneel by the fire
The darkness comes soon
The cat meowed and purred
She walked between my legs
The darkness comes soon
The stars will guide my way
She walked between my legs
She ran into the house
The stars will guide my way
I walk the beaten path
She ran into the house
Hiding away from me
I walk the beaten path
Stone, sand, and shell
Hiding away from me
The man peeks out
Stone, sand and shell
I stumble to the ground
The man peeks out
He hides behind the tree
I stumble to the ground
I'm running out of steam
Night turns to day
I kneel by the fire
Tapping at the glass
A man outside my window
___________________________(Line 1)
___________________________(Line 2)
___________________________(Line 3)
___________________________(Line 4)
___________________________(Line 5) - same as line 2
___________________________(Line 6)
___________________________(Line 7) - same as line 4
___________________________(Line 8)
___________________________(Line 9) - same as line 6
___________________________(Line 10)
___________________________(Line 11) - same as line 8
___________________________(Line 12)
And so on...
Part of the pleasure of the pantoum is the way its recurring lines gently and hypnotically twine in and out of one another, and the way they surprise us when they fit together in unexpected ways. Write a pantoum comprised of 6-8 stanzas, with meaningfully intertwined lines. Try to create an unexpected juxtaposition between the lines to achieve surprise or irony.
Example from Christopher Lane:
A man outside my window
I kneel by the fire
The darkness comes soon
The cat meowed and purred
She walked between my legs
The darkness comes soon
The stars will guide my way
She walked between my legs
She ran into the house
The stars will guide my way
I walk the beaten path
She ran into the house
Hiding away from me
I walk the beaten path
Stone, sand, and shell
Hiding away from me
The man peeks out
Stone, sand and shell
I stumble to the ground
The man peeks out
He hides behind the tree
I stumble to the ground
I'm running out of steam
Night turns to day
I kneel by the fire
Tapping at the glass
A man outside my window
Though there might be fear inside,
ReplyDeleteShe doesn’t want to make it better.
A secret wants to pour out of her mouth;
She remains silent.
She doesn’t want to make it better.
Her enemy is getting closer.
She remains silent.
She won’t dare to lose it all.
Her enemy is getting closer.
Her enemy is unseen by the rest.
She won’t dare to lose it all.
Only she knows what it is.
Her enemy is unseen by the rest.
Only she knows what she’s hiding.
Only she knows what it is.
She’s the only one who can help herself.
Only she knows what she’s hiding.
It’s her secret deep within.
She’s the only one who can help herself,
But she decides to let her enemy win.
It’s her secret deep within.
This secret can surely kill her,
But she decides to let her enemy win.
She secretly lets her enemy kill her.
The waves crash upon the shore
ReplyDeleteDark clouds loom overhead
People pack up their things
A storm is on its way
Dark clouds loom overhead
Bolts of lightning pierce the sky
A storm is on its way
The wind begins to howl
Bolts of lightning pierce the sky
Sand is twirled around like mini dust devils
The wind begins to howl
Waves inch up the shoreline
Sand is twirled around like mini dust devils
The roads have been cleared
Waves inch up the shoreline
People peek out their windows
The roads have been cleared
Clothes are pulled off the line
People peek out their windows
The first raindrops splatter on the pavement
Clothes are pulled off the line
Folks huddle on their couches holding cups of hot chocolate
The first raindrops splatter on the pavement
Thunder roars through the little beach town
Folks huddle on their couches holding cups of hot chocolate
The rain sounds like a million tap dancers doing their thing
Thunder roars through the little beach town
The storm passes within minutes
Pantoum
ReplyDeleteThe darkness surrounds
the girl’s will diminishes
the enemy approaches
the girl is ready for her final battle
The Girl’s will diminishes
as the enemy comes closer
the girl is ready for her final battle
with the last of her power she ensues the fight
As the enemy comes closer
the pain in her mind increases
with the last of her power she ensues the fight
the enemy is too strong for her
The pain increases in her mind
she wants relief from the torture
the enemy is too strong for her
she gets knocked down and tears fall
She wants relief from the torture
the pain she feels when she looks at the enemies face
she gets knocked down and tears fall
Why did the one person she love have to be cursed
The pain she feels when she looks at the enemies face
Too strong for her to bare
why did the one person she love have to be cursed
She gets up from being pushed and pins the enemy down
Too strong to bare
when she stares into his eyes
She gets up from being pushed and pins the enemy down
there is fear in his eyes
When he stares into his eyes
she knows he didn’t mean anything
There is fear in his eyes
as she delivers the final blow and the tears of pain fall from her eyes
Small beacons of hope in an infinite darkness
ReplyDeleteThe stars shine bright in the night sky
The light seems to go on forever
So much of it snuffed out by the blackest of night
The stars shine bright in the night sky
A false sense of hope and security
So much of it snuffed out by the blackest of night
What if it’s all just a veil?
A false sense of hope and security
What if it’s not false? What if it’s true?
What if it’s all just a veil?
What if the stars shine brighter than the night?
What if it’s not false? What if it’s true?
Will the stars grow infinitely?
What if the stars shine brighter than the night?
Will the night be banished, never to be seen again?
Will the stars grow infinitely?
Light seeping in over the blackness
Will the night be banished, never to be seen again?
Would the light then truly be light?
Light seeping in over the blackness
Would you recognize the difference if the was only light?
Would the light then truly be light
If it could be mistaken for darkness
Many people cry
ReplyDeleteIt’s a feeling that can’t be contained
A tear drops from the face
It hits the pavement like it hits the heart
It’s a feeling that can’t be contained
Excitement fills the soul
It hits the pavement like it hits the heart
Joy explores the world
Excitement fills the soul
A new soul born
Joy explores the world
A cry is finally heard
A new soul born
A reincarnation of many lives
A cry is finally heard
Happiness is spread
A reincarnation of many lives
People are born
Happiness is spread once again
This can always last for so long
People are born
A smile occurs among people
This can always last for so long
Until their time here is gone
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry if this sounds creepy..
ReplyDeleteBlack and white they are
Majestic beautiful creatures
Fill the plans of Africa
They are zebras
Majestic beautiful creatures
Friendly I hope so
They are zebras
Wild, free and amazing
Friendly I hope so
I wish I was a zebra
Wild, free and amazing
I love zebra
I wish I was a zebra
They are better than lions
I love zebra
Fast they can ran
They are better than lions
Fast like a cheetah
Fast they can ran
I want to run with the zebras
Fast like a cheetah
Prettier than a pony
I want to run with the zebras
The best you will ever see
Darkness captivates the night
ReplyDeleteOur hope for light carries us through
But is it really that bad?
For the shroud provides shelter
Our hope for light carries us through
We are given the chance to go on
For the shroud provides shelter
And we feel safe
We are given the chance to go on
But we must take advantage and rest
And we feel safe
Under the guardianship of the night
But we must take advantage and rest
Because it’s the only chance we have
Under the guardianship of the night
But others are as well
Because it’s the only chance we have
We must take advantage and attack!
But others are as well
So we must still be wary
We must take advantage and attack!
Our battlefield still lies before us
So we must still be wary
Even though we are superior!
Our battlefield lies before us
But we will not emerge victorious
Even though we are superior!
For there are no winners in such an attack.
The frozen ground,
ReplyDeleteCovered in snow.
I hate snow passionately.
It is cold.
Covered in snow,
My car.
It is cold.
I am cold
My car
Is a frozen car.
I am cold.
I wish it had not snowed.
Is a frozen car
bad?
I wish it had not snowed
It is
Bad
That it snowed.
It is
horrible
That it snowed.
Bad
For me.
Horribly
Bad.
Worse.
Horribly
Bad.
Fixing this:
DeleteThe frozen ground,
Covered in snow.
I hate snow passionately.
It is cold.
Covered in snow,
My car.
It is cold.
I am cold
My car
Is a frozen car.
I am cold.
I wish it had not snowed.
Is a frozen car
bad?
I wish it had not snowed
It is
Bad
That it snowed.
It is
horrible
That it snowed.
Bad,
Horrible,
Worse.
It’s dark now and seems cold
ReplyDeleteBreath in
There’s a thick mist that surrounds me
Breath out
Breathe in
Do you hear them?
Breathe out
That siren, isn’t it annoying?
Do you hear them?
Their screams
That siren, isn’t it annoying?
It makes my heart speed
Their screams
They sadden me, I wish I could fight back
It makes my heart speed
Why is it so hard for me to breathe?
They sadden me, I wish I could fight back
Why do my limbs feel so heavy?
Why is it so hard for me to breathe?
Shaky breathe in
Why do my limbs feel so heavy?
Are these shackles holding me?
Shaky breathe in
Where am I?
Are these shackles holding me?
Forced breathe out
Where am I?
What has happened to this world?
The wind began to blow
ReplyDeleteThe trees begin to shake
The colorful leaves fall
They dance around my yard
The trees begin to shake
More and more each day
They dance around my yard
Like a parade in a way
More and more each day
The leaves come falling down
They dance around my yard
With the wind while it blew
The leaves come falling down
As I stood underneath the tree
With the wind while it blew
The many colors were flying
As I stood underneath the tree
The tree that I grew
The many colors were flying
I watched them as they passed
The tree that I grew
Started to lose its leaves
I watched them as they passed
For the start of something new
As she walked through the gates
ReplyDeleteThere was an ominous look on her face.
Skeptical of where she was being led,
She followed without resistance.
There was an ominous look on her face,
As the keepers began to summon her towards a cage.
She followed without resistance.
And the doors began to open,
As the keepers began to summon her towards a cage.
She sat within the barred enclosure,
And the doors began to open.
The show was about to begin.
She sat within the barred enclosure;
Wishing, hoping, waiting for an escape.
The show was about to begin,
And she would soon be trapped.
Wishing, hoping, waiting for an escape;
The cage began to drop,
And she would soon be trapped.
Drowning.
The cage began to drop,
And the water began to swallow her.
Drowning-
She would soon be gone.
She wanted to be free
ReplyDeleteBreak away from the chains that were holding her in captivity
She was tired living a life that she had absolutely no control in
It was her life; she’s supposed to be the one in charge
Break away from the chains that were holding her in captivity
That’s what she was going to do; she was going to become her own person
It was her life; she’s supposed to be the one in charge
Realization has come upon her and it was time for her to venture off into her own.
That’s what she was going to do; she was going to become her own person
It was going to be challenging but she was up for the mission.
Realization has come upon her and it was time for her to venture off into her own.
She’s gone too long living a life that wasn’t even hers.
It was going to be challenging but she was up for the mission.
This is not what she envisioned.
She’s gone too long living a life that wasn’t even hers.
This is not her; this is an image of what everyone wants her to be.
This is not what she envisioned.
If she could she would have woken up earlier and realized it was time for a change.
This is not her; this is an image of what everyone wants her to be.
But it’s never too late.
If she could she would have woken up earlier and realized it was time for a change.
She’s been lost for so long that she isn’t sure of what she wants to be
But it’s never too late
Change is here, and she doesn’t care if they like it or not
Ryan P. Tunison
ReplyDeleteEmotion racing through my soul,
As She remains gracious in Her figure,
Peering with intent into my heart,
She never ceases to present Her beauty.
As She remains gracious in Her figure,
The sun only glows its radiance for Her,
She never ceases to present Her beauty,
Perfection in that damaged reality.
The sun only glows its radiance for Her,
A visage so pure to rival a goddess’ eye,
Perfection in that damaged reality,
Now only to have Her do I wish.
A visage so pure to rival a goddess’ eye,
She is the light of the day that shines so bright,
Now only to have Her do I wish,
Never tainted by the evil that could not go amiss.
She is the light of the day that shines so bright,
She is the sun and always will I be blind,
Never tainted by the evil that could not go amiss,
Even in Her presence I am lost beyond return.
She is the sun and always will I be blind,
Aware of that love between Her and I,
Even in Her presence I am lost beyond return,
Now left to wander with dreams of romance.
Aware of that love between Her and I,
A love She would rather hide,
Now left to wander with dreams of romance,
In endless compliments I cease to exist.
A love She would rather hide,
And now I finish with that letter,
In endless compliments I cease to exist,
And with Her I can do little to resist.
She walked nervously onto the stage
ReplyDeleteAll eyes were on her
But the eyes she felt the most were the ones coming from behind her
This was the most significant moment of her life
All eyes were on her
She sang along with the music the way she had practiced
This was the most significant moment of her life
But she could feel his presence behind her
She sang along with the music the way she had practiced
She couldn’t turn to look at him
But she could feel his presence behind her
She wasn’t sure what to choose
She couldn’t turn to look at him
He sang his lines in response to hers
She wasn’t sure what to choose
Would she go past the point of no return?
He sang his lines in response to hers
She was afraid
Would she go past the point of no return?
His voice tempted her
She was afraid
But when he suddenly embraced her from behind she felt safe
His voice tempted her
She was past the point of no return
The night was long.
ReplyDeleteThe darkness was overpowering.
The empty feeling wouldn’t disappear.
She needed to breathe.
The darkness was overpowering.
She yearned for a change.
She needed to breathe.
The time continued to pass.
She yearned for a change.
No one was around to hear her crying out.
The time continued to pass.
She needed more strength.
No one was around to hear her crying out.
What could she do?
She needed more strength.
Something inside her made her keep trying.
What could she do?
Soon she felt herself letting go, but
Something inside her made her keep trying.
Giving up wasn’t an option.
She felt herself letting go, but
This time something changed.
Giving up wasn’t an option.
The strength built up inside her.
This time something changed.
The light shinned across the desolate room.
The strength built up inside her.
She had survived the devastating nightmare.
A pile of different pictures
ReplyDeleteBlack and white
Colorful
Meaningful moments
Black and white
Older pictures
Meaningful moments
That last forever
Older pictures
Slowly fading away
That last forever
Even though the picture fades
Slowly fading away
The pictures meaning stays
Even though the picture fades
The memories last
The pictures meaning stays
Through the good and the bad
The memories last
For a life time
Through the good and the bad
Memories stay
For a life time
Through the pictures taken
I watch the rain race down the window
ReplyDeleteI wonder why the clouds cry
And why does the sun shine so brightly
If the world is full of gloom
I wonder why the clouds cry
If they are always being admired
If the world is full of gloom
Even if it’s bright as the brightest day
If they are always being admired
Wouldn’t the stars notice and get jealous
Even if it’s bright as the brightest day
And the night just as bright because of their glow
Wouldn’t the stars notice and get jealous
When people ogle at the moon
And the night just as bright because of their glow
Don’t you want to be ogled at?
When people ogle at the moon
Don’t you want to be the moon?
Don’t you want to be ogled at?
Don’t you pray to be noticed in some way?
Don’t you want to be the moon?
Having your talents admired by all
Don’t you pray to be noticed in some way?
Maybe you are and maybe you just don’t notice it
The wind blows.
ReplyDeleteWhispers fill the air.
She runs away.
There is darkness everywhere.
Whispers fill the air.
She can’t run any longer.
There is darkness everywhere.
She stands alone and afraid.
She can’t run any longer.
The shadows creep closer.
She stands alone and afraid.
But she won’t back down.
The shadows creep closer.
Her heart pounds.
But she won’t back down.
It’s her time to fight.
Her heart pounds.
She whispers a goodbye to her love.
It’s her time to fight.
She holds back a cry.
She whispers a goodbye to her love.
A shadow steps forward.
She holds back a cry.
It’s him, her love.