The Pantoum

Directions:
1. One person should read the section about “Form/Structure” aloud to the group.
2. Each person should ask questions to clarify how to create a pantoum.
3. As a group, try to answer the questions and figure out how to write a pantoum.
4. Look at the example.
5. WRITE one pantoum as a group.
6. WRITE one pantoum individually.

The Form/Structure of a Pantoum

In a traditional Pantoum:

  • The lines are grouped into quatrains (4-line stanzas).
  • The final line of the Pantoum must be the same as its first line.
  • A Pantoum has any number of quatrains.
  • Lines may be of any length.
  • The Pantoum has a rhyme scheme of abab in each quatrain. Thus, the lines rhyme alternately.
  • The Pantoum says everything twice:
  • For all quatrains except the first, the first line of the current quatrain repeats the second line in the preceeding quatrain; and the third line of the current quatrain repeats the fourth line of the preceeding quatrain.
  • In addition, for the final quatrain, its second line repeats the (so-far unrepeated) third line in the first quatrain; and its last line repeats the (so-far unrepeated) first line of the first quatrain.
  • Thus the pattern of line-repetition is as follows, where the lines of the first quatrain are represented by the numbers "1 2 3 4":

1 2 3 4 - Lines in first quatrain.
2 5 4 6 - Lines in second quatrain.
5 7 6 8 - Lines in third quatrain.
7 9 8 10 - Lines in fourth quatrain.
9 3 10 1 - Lines in fifth and final quatrain.

In this example, we have 5 quatrains. You could have more. You could have fewer.

Example of a Pantoum:

Try telling me that

as if you believed

you could help me

ground myself...just

as if you believed

I would go to

ground, myself, just

sitting rapt and waiting for the rain.

I would go to

your heart – cracked, open just

sitting rapt and waiting for the rain

you'd be letting loose if

your heart cracked open. Just

try telling me that

you'd be letting loose if

you could: “help me.”

By Mark D. Hessman

How to Write

The repetition in a Pantoum made this form popular with audiences. The repetition allowed the listener to catch the poem more clearly at first hearing or first reading.

Here are some steps to take in composing one:

  1. Draft the first quatrain. Be sure to use the Pantoum's rhyme scheme.
  2. Layout the lines that will repeat - the second and fourth lines go to their positions in the framework of the second quatrain, while the first and third lines hold places in what will become the final stanza.
  3. Construct your second stanza.
  4. Layout the second and fourth lines of that quatrain in the framework of the next quatrain.
  5. Continue with these steps. Be sure to follow the above guidelines for form.
  6. When you are approaching the desired length for you Pantoum, start looking for lines that fit in your current quatrain and can also work in the final quatrain.
  7. Like packing an inflated helium balloon into a suitcase, tussle with modifying the repeated sentences to tug the poem into shape.
  8. Have fun! This is hard, but should get you thinking!

The Concrete Poem

Directions:
1. One person should read the section about “Form/Structure” aloud to the group.
2. Each person should ask questions to clarify how to create a concrete poem.
3. As a group, try to answer the questions and figure out how to write a concrete poem.
4. Look at the example.
5. WRITE one concrete poem as a group.
6. WRITE one concrete poem individually.

The Form/Structure of a Concrete Poem

A concrete poem, also called a spacialist poem, is one in which the words of the poem make a picture or design. A poem about an apple that is shaped like an apple would be an example. Sometimes the design of the poem contributes something to its meaning. Basically, concrete poem is one that takes the shape of the object it describes.

Example:

SnakeShapePoema
by Rinaldo Rasa
when
a
poem
meets
a
poet
a
poet
meets
a
flower
when
a
flower
meets
the
wind
in
the
spring
the
spring
meets
a
water
snake
hanged
in
a
barbed
wire.

To brainstorm:
1. Choose a Theme.
2. What objects might you relate to it?
3. What phrases would you want in this poem to describe the THEME and OBJECT?
4. Form them into a shape.

The Ballad

Directions:
1. One person should read the section about “Form/Structure” aloud to the group.
2. Each person should ask questions to clarify how to create a ballad.
3. As a group, try to answer the questions and figure out how to write a ballad.
4. Look at the example.
5. WRITE one concrete poem as a group.
6. WRITE one concrete poem individually.

The Form/Structure of a Ballad

Ballads tell of an event. They were often used to spread the news, provide entertainment, or create a "bigger than real life" story. Ballads...
  • often have verses of four lines
  • usually have a rhyming pattern: either abac or aabb or acbc (usually the easiest to rhyme)
  • repetition often found in ballads
  • entire stanzas can be repeated like a song's chorus
  • lines can be repeated but each time a certain word is changed
  • a question and answer format can be built into a ballad: one stanza asks a questions and the next stanza answers the question
  • Ballads contain a lot of dialogue.
  • Action is often described in the first person
  • Two characters in the ballad can speak to each other on alternating lines
  • Sequences of "threes" often occur: three kisses, three tasks, three events, for example

Example:
On Top of Spaghetti
On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table,
And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.

It rolled in the garden,
And under a bush,
And then my poor meatball,
Was nothing but mush.

The mush was as tasty
As tasty could be,
And then the next summer,
It grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered,
All covered with moss,
And on it grew meatballs,
And tomato sauce.

So if you eat spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
Hold on to your meatball,
Whenever you sneeze.

How to Write a Ballad:

Start with a key phrase...

...that pops into your head,

...or strikes you when somebody says it,

...and is connected with something you feel strongly about.

Build on this phrase.

Images related to the phrase

Similar phrases

Rhyming words

A tune that fits the phrase

Ask yourself questions.
Who is saying this phrase?
...Why? ...Where? ...To whom?
What is the reply?
How did they get into this situation?
Consequences

What rhymes with the key phrase?

Do these rhyming phrases trigger more images?

Construct verses.
Most usual is 4 lines, with the 2nd line rhyming with the last.
Arrange the verses into sequence.
Cobble together more verses to make a story.
The initial fill-in verses may be Yuk! but they give your imagination a framework.
Sing them over and over until, days (months?) later, better words come to you.

Do some editing.

Throw out unnecessary verses.

Add a chorus.

...or a refrain, or instrumental break.

Or turn the verse with that initial key phrase into a chorus.

The chorus gives the audience time to absorb the storyline...

...and lets them release all the emotions you have aroused in their souls.