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The pantoum is a form of poetry of Malaysian origin from the 15th century which was modified by the French in the 19th century. The modern pantoum is written in an unlimited number of quatrains (stanzas of four lines) with a strict repeating pattern - the second and fourth lines of each quatrain are repeated as the 1st and 3rd lines of the next quatrain. The pattern continues until the final quatrain when the 1st line of the poem becomes the last line and the 3rd line becomes the 2nd line of the final quatrain. While some say the lines should also rhyme, many pantoums have been written that do not.

The pattern is easy to follow by using the following template:

1
2
3
4

2
5
4
6

5
7
6
8

7
3
8
1

As you write each line, copy and paste it into the line where it needs to be repeated. Here's an example of my own pantoum, "Patrick, Do Your Homework", in progress:

1 Patrick, do your homework,
2 or go to bed without any dinner.
3 Turn off the radio and do your homework.
4 I'm not going to say it again.

2 or go to bed without any dinner.
5
4 I'm not going to say it again.
6

5
7
6
8

7
3 Turn off the radio and do your homework.
8
1 Patrick, do your homework,

The challenge is to write lines that can stand alone and also mesh together well when repeated. To make the poem more interesting, feel free to slightly modify the words and/or punctuation. Here's the final version of "Patrick, Do Your Homework":

1 Patrick, do your homework,
2 or go to bed without any dinner.
3 Turn off the radio and do your homework.
4 I'm not going to say it again.

2 Or go to bed without any dinner,
5 and starve for all I care.
4 I'm not going to say it again.
6 Don't do your homework,

5 and starve. For all I care,
7 you don't have to listen.
6 Don't do your homework.
8 I'm tired of repeating myself.

7 You don't have to listen,
3 turn off the radio and do your homework.
8 I'm tired of repeating myself.
1 Patrick! Do your homework!

I had fun writing this, my first pantoum. Give it a try! Enjoy!

Learn more about this author, Bobbie Ann Pimm.
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