The last time I tried a pantoum, I was feeling mucky and complicated and my poem reflected that. This time, I resolved to write a small love song, and pare it down as much as possible.
A pantoum, it seems, can hold both moods---the rotating, repeating lines clarify the complicated and amplify the simple.
I would let in the moon
ere light floods
the room
and everything flies
ere light—flooding
fast the hole in my heart
where everything flies
into night; no keys lock
fast the hole in my heart
Dark as dusk, I swell
into night; no keys lock
you to me; only love,
dark as dusk. We swell
the room,
you to me, only. Love,
I would let in the moon.
----Sara Lewis Holmes (all rights reserved)
End notes:
Don't miss this magnificent post from Michael Rosen at Tricia's blog about form poetry.
And find all the Poetry Seven's pantoums here: Liz, Tricia, Andi, Tanita, Kelly, and Laura.
Poetry Friday is hosted today by Ellen at Space City Scribes.
