Tree Langdon

Pantoum Poetry Challenge

Words In Motion invites you to play with words

men in blue tunics walking in a parade, holding signs with chinese characters
Photo by Author – GeorgeTown, Malaysia, 2024

It’s time for a new poetry challenge!

I’ve been playing around with different forms of poetry and thought it would be a great way to challenge our brains.

Let’s write a Pantoum!

We were in Malaysia last year, so I was intrigued when I discovered a form of poetry that originated there. It’s called a Pantoum.

“The pantoum is a poetic form derived from the pantun, a Malay verse form: specifically from the pantun berkait, a series of interwoven quatrains.” Wikipedia

There are more formal interpretations of how to write a pantoum, but I’ve decided to try this one, mainly because it’s easier.

  1. Write 8 lines of poetry
  2. Then put them together using this basic structure:

Line 1
Line 2
Line 3
Line 4

Line 2
Line 5
Line 4
Line 6

Line 5
Line 7
Line 6
Line 8

Line 7
Line 3
Line 8
Line 1

Don’t include the numbers in your final poem. Here’s a link to mine:

I’m opening up my Substack Chat for this challenge to share our Pantoum poetry in one space. Feel free to post a link to your Pantoum there.

PoetryWe Seek Safety In Social Sameness

We Seek Safety In Social Sameness

Pretty cool, right?

I’m fascinated with how the repeated lines shift meanings in subtle ways. They echo each other and add different weights to the words.

If you want to follow my process, here are my original 8 lines.

  • To find your way to truth in this thread of time
  • Be sincere in what you write in your global manuscript
  • Or join the chorus and sing the song of social sameness
  • Tuck your hidden remains behind an acceptable mask
  • Living in a world where reality doesn’t rhyme with truth
  • Sing as you sink into the drudgery of donkey work
  • Learn to reconcile the struggle in your narratives
  • Linger in the fullness of your life, to compose the solo for your soul

When I put them in the Pantoum format suggested above, I was tempted to add more, but decided to stick to the plan. If you want to veer away from the pantoum form, that’s ok. It’s fun to play with words, and I found this inspiring.

Here’s how I created my Pantoum

1 To find your way to truth in this thread of time
2 be sincere in what you write in your global manuscript
3 Or join the chorus and sing the song of social sameness
4 Tuck your hidden remains behind an acceptable mask

2 Be sincere in what you write in your global manuscript
5 Living in a world where reality doesn’t rhyme with truth
4 Tuck your hidden remains behind an acceptable mask
6 Sing as you sink into the drudgery of donkey work

5 Living in a world where reality doesn’t rhyme with truth
7 Learn to reconcile the struggle in your narratives
6 Sing as you sink into the drudgery of donkey work
8 Linger in the fullness of your life, to compose the solo for your soul

7 Learn to reconcile the struggle in your narratives
3 Or join the chorus and sing the song of social sameness
8 Linger in the fullness of your life, to compose the solo for your soul
1 To find your way to truth in this thread of time

Leave a comment on my Substack if you want to join us!

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