Poetry With Style - The Pantoum
Posted: Saturday, March 28, 2009
by David Pekrul
In a previous article, I wrote about a poetry style called the Tetractys. In this article, the new word is "Pantoum".
The dictionary definition of Pantoum is "a Malaysian verse form consisting of quotations with a ABAB rhyme scheme linked by repeated lines."
The Pantoum is a variety of formal verse that is distinguished by cycling refrains. Pantoums are written in quatrains, sets of four lines, which may be rhymed or unrhymed. The first quatrain uses four lines that set up the pattern of the Pantoum.
The second quatrain uses the second and fourth lines from the first quatrain as its first and third lines. The second and fourth lines of the second quatrain are new to the poem.
The third quatrain uses the second and fourth lines of the second quatrain as its first and third lines. The second and fourth lines of the third quatrain are new to the poem.
The fourth quatrain uses the second and fourth lines of the third quatrain as its first and third lines. The second and fourth lines, again, are new.
This pattern continues for as many quatrains as you wish, but the ending stanza then repeats the second and fourth lines of the previous stanza as its first and third lines, and also repeats the third line of the first stanza as its second line, and the first line of the first stanza as its fourth line. So, the first line of the poem is also the last line.
Confused? I don't blame you, for I had to read the definition of this poetry style more than a few times before I understood the concept.
Here it is in simple design:
Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
Line 5 (repeat of line 2)
Line 6
Line 7 (repeat of line 4)
Line 8
Again, continue with as many stanzas as you wish, but the ending stanza then repeats the second and fourth lines of the previous stanza as its first and third lines, and also repeats the third line of the first stanza as its second line, and the first line of the first stanza as its fourth line. So, the first line of the poem is also the last.
In simple format, the last stanza looks like this:
Line 2 of the previous stanza
Line 3 of the first stanza
Line 4 of the previous stanza
Line 1 of the first stanza
Still confused? Well, that's okay. I have written a poem in that style, which may make it easier to understand.
A Sound That Tells Me All Is Well
In shallow ponds the tadpoles squirm, until they turn to frogs,
Among the rushes, lily pads, they form a froggy choir,
As each and ev'ry night they croak, and wake up all the dogs,
A sound I love to listen to in bed as I retire.
Among the rushes, lily pads, they form a froggy choir,
As "croak" and "ribbit" there is heard, a song 'til early light,
A sound I love to listen to in bed as I retire,
A sound that tells me all is well and everything is right.
As "croak" and "ribbit" there is heard, a song 'til early light,
I rest in sweet contentment as I listen to the sound,
A sound that tells me all is well and everything is right,
And though it seems so simple, it is very much profound.
I rest in sweet contentment as I listen to the sound,
Among the rushes, lily pads, where moonlit waters gleam,
And though it seems so simple, it is very much profound,
A sound of such complexity, which spawns a simple dream.
Among the rushes, lily pads, where moonlit waters gleam,
As each and ev'ry night they croak, and wake up all the dogs,
A sound of such complexity, which spawns a simple dream,
In shallow ponds the tadpoles squirm, until they turn to frogs.
If this article is used in any publication, please send a copy of the publication to David Pekrul at
E-Mail:dpekrul@gmail.com
The Pantoum is a variety of formal verse that is distinguished by cycling refrains. Pantoums are written in quatrains, sets of four lines, which may be rhymed or unrhymed. The first quatrain uses four lines that set up the pattern of the Pantoum.
The second quatrain uses the second and fourth lines from the first quatrain as its first and third lines. The second and fourth lines of the second quatrain are new to the poem.
The third quatrain uses the second and fourth lines of the second quatrain as its first and third lines. The second and fourth lines of the third quatrain are new to the poem.
The fourth quatrain uses the second and fourth lines of the third quatrain as its first and third lines. The second and fourth lines, again, are new.
This pattern continues for as many quatrains as you wish, but the ending stanza then repeats the second and fourth lines of the previous stanza as its first and third lines, and also repeats the third line of the first stanza as its second line, and the first line of the first stanza as its fourth line. So, the first line of the poem is also the last line.
Confused? I don't blame you, for I had to read the definition of this poetry style more than a few times before I understood the concept.
Here it is in simple design:
Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4
Line 5 (repeat of line 2)
Line 6
Line 7 (repeat of line 4)
Line 8
Again, continue with as many stanzas as you wish, but the ending stanza then repeats the second and fourth lines of the previous stanza as its first and third lines, and also repeats the third line of the first stanza as its second line, and the first line of the first stanza as its fourth line. So, the first line of the poem is also the last.
In simple format, the last stanza looks like this:
Line 2 of the previous stanza
Line 3 of the first stanza
Line 4 of the previous stanza
Line 1 of the first stanza
Still confused? Well, that's okay. I have written a poem in that style, which may make it easier to understand.
A Sound That Tells Me All Is Well
In shallow ponds the tadpoles squirm, until they turn to frogs,
Among the rushes, lily pads, they form a froggy choir,
As each and ev'ry night they croak, and wake up all the dogs,
A sound I love to listen to in bed as I retire.
Among the rushes, lily pads, they form a froggy choir,
As "croak" and "ribbit" there is heard, a song 'til early light,
A sound I love to listen to in bed as I retire,
A sound that tells me all is well and everything is right.
As "croak" and "ribbit" there is heard, a song 'til early light,
I rest in sweet contentment as I listen to the sound,
A sound that tells me all is well and everything is right,
And though it seems so simple, it is very much profound.
I rest in sweet contentment as I listen to the sound,
Among the rushes, lily pads, where moonlit waters gleam,
And though it seems so simple, it is very much profound,
A sound of such complexity, which spawns a simple dream.
Among the rushes, lily pads, where moonlit waters gleam,
As each and ev'ry night they croak, and wake up all the dogs,
A sound of such complexity, which spawns a simple dream,
In shallow ponds the tadpoles squirm, until they turn to frogs.
If this article is used in any publication, please send a copy of the publication to David Pekrul at
E-Mail:dpekrul@gmail.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Love te pantoum! Have tried a few myself and find them both challenging and rewarding. Nice to see some poetry on the site. My most recent article included an attempt at a "lai" poem. Enjoyed reading this.Thanks for this, Julian, and I look forward to reading what you have for us here.
Mr. PerkulThank you for this wonderful poem.Regards,SwapnaThank you, Swapna.I will try to write more poems of particular styles.
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