pantoum

The pantoum consists of a series of quatrains rhyming abab in which the second and fourth lines of a quatrain recur as the first and third lines in the succeeding quatrain; 

each quatrain introduces a new second rhyme as bcbc, cdcd. 

The first line of the series recurs as the last line of the closing quatrain, and third line of the poem recurs as the second line of the closing quatrain, rhyming zaza. 

The design is simple: 

Line 1

Line 2

Line 3

Line 4 

Line 5 (repeat of line 2) 

Line 6

Line 7 (repeat of line 4) 

Line 8 

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. 

So the first line of the poem is also the last. 

Last stanza: 

Line 2 of previous stanza

Line 3 of first stanza

Line 4 of previous stanza

Line 1 of first stanza 

NOTE: I found to meter specified for this form but on Shadow Poetry found examples from Iambic Trimeter to Pentameter

Example Poem

Then She Married Me

I met her online, whatcha think of that?

In writing workshop I critiqued her work.

Then we played sensual games by chat.

Cutting out by need... the hotel desk clerk.

In writing workshop I critiqued her work.

Her stories aroused a man unfulfilled.

Cutting out by need... the hotel desk clerk.

Our minds connected; our Eros was thrilled.

Her stories aroused  a man unfulfilled.

We climbed with words into each other's head.

Our minds connected; our Eros was thrilled.

This late-night texting led me to her bed.

We climbed with words into each other's head.

Then we played sensual games by chat.

This late-night texting led me to her bed.

I met her online, whatcha think of that?

(c) Lawrencealot April 2012

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