Circle

[Tinker]

Pantoum Circle

"A slinky going down a flight of stairs,"
a fluid, repetitious rolling verse.
A crafted Pantoum's lines repeat in pairs
in smooth and equal rhythm, never terse.

A fluid, repetitious, rolling verse,
the Malay fishing song arrived in France,
in smooth and equal rhythm, never terse,
it passed to Victor Hugo just by chance.

The Malay fishing song arrived in France,
a lyrical endeavor at its best,
it passed to Victor Hugo just by chance.
Inspired from afar we join the quest.

A lyrical endeavor at its best 
the chant-like sounds sing mystic, old and new,
inspired from afar we join the quest.
We honor ancient artists two by two.

The chant-like sounds sing mystic, old and new.
A crafted Pantoum's lines repeat in pairs,
we honor ancient artists two by two.
"A slinky going down a flight of stairs."*
                             ~~Judi Van Gorder

*Miriam Sagan, The Unbroken Line

A Pantoum

[tonyv]

Very nicely done, Judi. I've seen plenty of sonnets about the sonnet, but this one's a first, and it's all about the pantoum. I like how you incorporated the quote.

Tony

[Tinker]

Thanks Tony.   I have to admit I am on a mission to demonstrate that writing in form is just not line count, meter and rhyme.   Most of the established forms have a whole history behind them, that history fascinates me.  The original concept is part of the craft of writing.   

The French Pantoum is inspired by Malay folk verse, originally a fishing song. The rhythm of the verse attempted to emulate the rhythm of the oars of the fishermen rowing out in unison. That is at the heart of the form, not the rhyme scheme or line count.  The history is really what I like best about writing in form.

~~Judi