Poetry Friday: Writing Pantoums with Friends

When Liz suggested reviving the dormant Poetry 7 Collaborative by writing pantoums around a common line, I said: "I'm in." 

Then I went to look up a pantoum.

Oh.

Hmmm.

Writing this was like turning myself inside out. 

The best part? Getting to read all my poetry sisters' beautiful efforts, which Laura Salas has collected here for Poetry Friday.  

A Pantoum

With thanks to Ani DiFranco for the line “I’ve got better things to do than survive"

I’ve got better things to do than survive

Like bread, I’m buttered to the edge

Slathered in riches, I’ve

congealed, a manicured hedge

Like bread, I’m buttered to the edge

I roll my socks in pairs; nothing should be

congealed; a manicured hedge

bitten back to nubs; still---wood, tree.   

I roll my socks; in pairs, nothing should be

alone in the dark; I reach for matches

bitten back to nubs; still! Wood! Tree!

I call out names, stick knives in latches

Alone, in the dark, I reach for matches

made in heaven; thus, a poem is braced, stave by stave

I call out! Names stick knives in latches;

Turning wood is soft as butter on the lathe

Made in heaven---thus, a poem is! Braced, stave by stave, 

Slathered in riches, I’ve 

turned. Wood is soft as butter. On the lathe,

I've got better things to do than survive.

                  ----Sara Lewis Holmes (all rights reserved)

Laura Purdie Salas has the Poetry Friday roundup today.