A Pantoum, for you, Virgil, you wanted to know:

[Pendragon]

Pantoums are a Malay form where lines repeat according to a set pattern. Thus the poem goes through many changes before ending on the same line where it began. This is the poem that contains my signature line.

Questions #2

I am afraid that I will never understand life:
The many shadows of reality;
the distorted reflections from a thousand mirrors;
the same hymn played and sung in myriad combinations.

The many shadows of reality;
the shades of what might have been;
the same hymn played and sung in myriad combinations.
How does it all come together and form an individual?

“The shades of what might have been.”
Too often we place too much emphasis on
how does it all come together and form an individual?
Life is life, it cannot be more or less.

Too often we place too much emphasis on
the road behind, not the road ahead.
Life is life, it cannot be more or less
than making certain each moment counts.

The road behind, not the road ahead,
is the one forever barred to our footsteps. Anything less
than making certain each moment counts
is the only true waste of time.

The one forever barred to our footsteps, nothing less;
the distorted reflections from a thousand mirrors;
making certain each moment counts.
I am afraid that I will never understand life.

Dale Harris
© 2002

[littlewing53]

pen...great poem...so eloquently said...i know you posted for virgil but what is the pattern?

[motherhubbard]

Pen, I think I like this one better than any you have posted. I like the way it made a pattern in my head and the rhythm. It was like a dance.

[Virgil]

Pen thank you. :thumbs_up It is a wonderful poem. One does not evven notice the repetitions. The are all integral to the whole. Wonderful. :) I loved this:

The many shadows of reality;
the shades of what might have been;
the same hymn played and sung in myriad combinations.
How does it all come together and form an individual?
and a great conclusion:

The one forever barred to our footsteps, nothing less;
the distorted reflections from a thousand mirrors;
making certain each moment counts.
I am afraid that I will never understand life:
Shouldn't that last sentence end in a full period and not a colon? Just noticed.

[ampoule]

I like. I may have to mess around with that.

[Pendragon]

pen...great poem...so eloquently said...i know you posted for virgil but what is the pattern?

OK. A pattern for a Pantoum is this:

A
B
C
D

Now in each line afterwards, line B becomes line A and line D becomes line C and you write a new line B and C in the next stanza, which become the line A and D for the next stanza, and so on. The Pantoum can be as long as you wish, or as short as three stanzas, three is necessary, for in the last stanza, line C from the first stanza is line B, and live A from the first stanza is line D. Thus you begin and end on the same line, much like a sestinia begins and ends on the same end-word. It is a great form to play with.

another one:


CHOICES

The summer is past; no summer sun,
The days are growing cold.
The shadows of the evening,
They seem so dark and long.

The days are growing cold;
The frost is on the ground,
They seem so dark and long,
These shadows. They reach the soul!

The frost is on the ground,
Painting the falling leaves.
These shadows—they reach the soul!
I must do something for relief!

Painting the fallen leaves
Upon the frame of stretched canvas—
(I must do something for relief!)—
Captures beauty in the silence.

Upon the frame of stretched canvas,
Each leaf stands out in unique detail,
Captures beauty in the silence.
So too, do I among my fellowmen.

Each leaf stands out in unique detail,
Has characteristics of its own.
So too, do I among my fellowmen,
Possess that which is mine, and mine alone!

“Has characteristics of its own.”
How those words describe my existence! I
Possess that which is mine, and mine alone!
Myself, My choices, My life!

How those words describe my existence! Ah,
The summer is past! No summer sun…
Myself, My choices, My life!
The shadows of the evening—

Dale Harris
© 1997

[Pendragon]

Pen thank you. :thumbs_up It is a wonderful poem. One does not evven notice the repetitions. The are all integral to the whole. Wonderful. :) I loved this:

and a great conclusion:

Shouldn't that last sentence end in a full period and not a colon? Just noticed.
It should, yes. Corrected. Thank you for the comments, everyone.

[littlewing53]

thank you for taking the time to explain pen...like the "pattern" affect...the topic unfolds in such a beautiful way...and stays focused...never thought abt it before but my writings have a tendency to wander and get lost and by studying this pattern i'll become a better writer...at least that's my desire...:idea: ...again, as always thank you for your posts....