Pantoum Poems

A pantoum is a poetic form of interlaced repetition, adapted from the Malay pantun. Built from quatrains, the pantoum reuses lines in a shifting pattern that creates echo, variation, and a mesmerizing, circular flow.

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Pantoums often explore memory, time, or transformation. Key characteristics include:

• Stanza Structure: Composed of 4-line stanzas (quatrains). The poem typically has multiple quatrains, ending with a stanza that “returns” to lines from the opening.
• Refrain Pattern: In each stanza, line 2 and line 4 become line 1 and line 3 of the next stanza. This produces a braid of recurring lines.
• Rhyme Scheme (Common): Frequently abab in each quatrain, though rhyme can vary in contemporary practice.
• Closing Loop: In the final stanza, poets often bring back lines from the very first stanza (commonly line 1 as the poem’s final line), creating a circular resolution.
• Tone & Movement: Repetition with slight shifts in punctuation or context lets meaning evolve—images deepen, memories refract, and themes gain resonance.

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The pantoum’s power lies in what returns and what changes. As lines reappear, their meanings tilt and accumulate, turning a simple sequence of quatrains into a layered meditation.