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How
to Write a Pantoum Shortly after my first column came out, I received an
anonymous question: what’s a
pantoum? Good question. The “pantun” is a Malaysian poetic form that was
introduced to the West by French novelist, essayist, and poet, Victor Hugo
(1802-1885), hence the French spelling, “pantoum.” Westerners have taken
creative liberties with the Malaysian form, which tends to follow a standard
rhyme form of ABAB, where multiple, rather than single subjects, are introduced.
While pantoums can have unlimited stanzas, you might want to begin with a
3-stanza poem until you get the hang of it: Stanza 1: Line 1 Stanza 2: Line 5 (repeat of line 2 in stanza 1) Stanza 3/Last Stanza (This is the format for the
last stanza regardless of how many preceding stanzas exist): Line 9 (line
2 of the previous stanza) I was first introduced to the pantoum a few years back
while participating in a UK-based on-line poetry workshop created to celebrate
“The Year of the Poet.” The Pennine Poetry Works, hosted by poets John
Carley and Helen Clare, renewed my interest in poetic forms. Since then, I’ve written a few pantoums, and, as a
more-experienced poet-friend of mine continues to remind me: “it looks easier
than it is.” I can attest to
that! But please, please, please
don’t let that deter you from trying this form!
Personally, I like the “word puzzle” aspect as well as the challenge
of creating lines that “flow.” It’s
fun to see how meaning shifts when you tweak them a bit, too.
While rhyming isn’t a “rule” in the western form, if you do like
rhymed poetry, the pantoum provides an excellent opportunity to hone those
wordsmything skills. Here’s one of mine: it's
all in the canvas Naked in front of a full-length mirror, You roll and press those folds of flesh, Relishing yet another mocha, (Note: See how
I used my “poetic license” to omit the “and” in verse 3, line 2 as well
as the “s” in “inspires.”) For other examples and information, please visit these
links: Be sure to visit Gerry Barto’s phenomenal site on Victor
Hugo. I e-mailed him when I
couldn’t find a pantoum by Hugo, and he responded almost immediately. We’re
both still trying to find one to no avail. The Pennine Poetry Works archives: http://www.villarana.freeserve.co.uk/workshome.htm.). For an extensive collection of Hugo’s poetry--sans pantoums, sorry to say--go to: http://www.gavroche.org/vhugo/vhpoetry/. There is also additional information about him at: http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96feb/hugo.html. Anne Waldman’s “Baby’s Pantoum.” (Note:
During the early 80s, I used to work for Anne and Reed at Naropa
University, formerly Naropa Institute, in Boulder, CO. Now I’m waxing all
nostalgic reading this one…) The Kalliope Workshop: http://kalliope.hypermart.net/pantoum.html. Gary Blankenship, WritersHood.com’s Poetry Editor Extraordinaire, has been so kind as to send this link to poet/essayist, Miriam Sagan’s interesting—and instructive—article: http://sfpoetry.org/sagan/pantoum.html Poet’s Workshop Q&A: Q: What is
Science Fiction Poetry? A: I’m just
going to offer you a little teaser for the moment, as my next column will
discuss this in further depth. Let’s begin with a short quiz. Please choose your responses from the items listed. 1. Science Fiction poetry is based on hard science. a) true b) false c) both true and not true d) both false and not false e) neither true nor not true or false nor not false f) all of the above g) none of the above h) this woman is definitely lunar i) what was the question? j) Next question—please! k) Where’s Heidigger when you need him? l) Schroedinger’s cat m)
Is this “beam-me-up-Scotty-time”? 2. Science Fiction poetry has nothing at all to do with hard science, but is speculative in nature. a) True b) True some of the time, but not all of the time c) False d) False some of the time, but not all of the time e) As with most SF greats (e.g., Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Bradbury, Vonnegut and all they spawned), SF poets are visionaries f) If William Shakespeare was alive today, he would be writing SF poetry 3. If studies show that there is a probability of intelligent life existing on earth, and if evidence of intelligent life can be observed and measured by the interrogative process, then list your questions below: a) b) c)
d) Aren’t quizzes fun?! Since one of the most practical ways to learn about a
poetic form, or genre, is to read examples of it, to get you started, I’ve provided a few links: The Martian Wave, Fifth Dimension, and Aoife’s
Kiss (all available at:
http://www.promartian.com)
have poetry in every issue. If you cruise on over to the Creator’s
Club, you can also see the archived work of several SF poets—including Yours
Truly. The Science Fiction Poetry Association (available at:
http://dm.net/~bejay/sfpa.htm.)
has a newsletter, information about events, “who’s-who,” and other goodies
as well. Tom Brinck’s Scifaiku site (available at: http://www.scifaiku.com)
was my original port of entry. Life
hasn’t been the same since I joined the scifaiku list.
Let’s just say I’ve folded time and space, journeyed to distant
galaxies, and encountered numerous aliens. “The Ultimate Science Fiction Poetry Guide” (available at: http://www.magicdragon.com/UltimateSF/sfpo.html) will keep you busy for a millennium or two. Terrie Leigh Relf is the poetry editor and poetry columnist for http://www.WritersMonthly.US. She also pens the “Mistress of Rhetoric” column for The Espresso, San Diego’s Magazine of Coffee and Café Culture. In addition to being an award winning and internationally published poet, she writes SF/S fiction, and is a freelance writer, editor, and writing coach. She's currently running a special on editorial services: $35/hr. with a two-hour minimum. E-mail her at Terrie@WritersMonthly.US for details.
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