The Jedi Master Posted January 11, 2011 Share Posted January 11, 2011 I was searching for some rarely-used poetry forms just to change up my writing a little, and came across the pantoum: It is composed of a series of quatrains; the second and fourth lines of each stanza are repeated as the first and third lines of the next. This pattern continues for any number of stanzas, except for the final stanza, which differs in the repeating pattern. The first and third lines of the last stanza are the second and fourth of the penultimate; the first line of the poem is the last line of the final stanza, and the third line of the first stanza is the second of the final. Very peculiar, I can understand why it's seldom seen. But I did write a poem in this form, and thought it might be a fun challenge for whoever wants to give it a try. Maybe if it goes well we can have a weekly or monthly contest to write poems in unusual forms. Anyway, anyone who's interested, feel free to post a pantoum! Here's mine: "A Pantoum for the Broken-Hearted" O, I've been left broken-hearted. She walked away From the love we had Without a thought to consequence. She walked away In her brazen fashion. Without a thought to consequence She moved on. In her brazen fashion She showed me who she is. She moved on As I fell to pieces. She showed me who she is: Cold-hearted trollop. As I fell to pieces I was sickened by our love. Cold-hearted trollop: Now I know the truth. I was sickened by our love, Our love was a lie. Now I know the truth, What I never suspected. Our love was a lie, She was an expert liar. What I never suspected: The ugly truth. She was an expert liar, Just like the others. The ugly truth, There was nothing else. Just like the others She meant the world to me. There was nothing else From the love we had. She meant the world to me. O, I've been left broken-hearted. Only after we've lost everything are we free to do anything. Paper Street Press Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amidala Skywalker Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 Okay, that is a GREAT poem! And what a great form. But I would think that would be really hard. I'll have to give it some thought. I usually do free-style poems because I have a terribly hard time rhyming, but this style doesn't require rhyme, so I might be able to do it. I'll definitely have to think about it. SHE MEANS TO END US ALL!!! DOOOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!!11eleventyone! There goes Ami's reputation of being a peaceful, nice person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiana Calthye Posted January 12, 2011 Share Posted January 12, 2011 I'm very impressed. That looks HARD to write. I can't write poetry, outside of haiku, so I doubt I could write this. Just when I thought it was over, I watched Tiana kick Almira in the head, effectively putting her out of her misery. I did not expect that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jedi Master Posted January 13, 2011 Author Share Posted January 13, 2011 Ami: Thank you! It was a difficult form to write in; the penultimate stanza especially, because it has to conform to the first stanza so that the final one will make sense. However, I can say in all honesty that I knocked this one out in about 20 minutes. I usually write free-style as well, but like I said, sometimes I like to try my hand at different forms just to shake things up a bit. You should give it a try. Tiana: Give it a try! Only after we've lost everything are we free to do anything. Paper Street Press Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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