Directory of Pantoum Resources

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The pantoum is a poetic form derived from the Malaysian pantun. In its modern form, the pantoum consists of an optional number of four-line stanzas, often unrhymed, in which the second and fourth lines of each stanza become the first and third lines of the following stanza. In more ambitious pantoums, the third and first lines of the first stanza become the second and fourth lines of the last stanza, so that the last line of the poem is identical to the first line of the poem. Some pantoums repeat only the first line of the first stanza in the last stanza.

Resources in This Category

• About.com Poetry: Pantoums

  http://poetry.about.com/od/pantoums/
  A listing of pantoum sites, including definitions, histories, and examples.

• Harmonie du soir (Evening Harmony)

  http://fleursdumal.org/poem/142
  A pantoum from Flowers of Evil by Charles Baudelaire. In French and in multiple English translations.

• Owl Editing: Sol

  http://sites.google.com/site/glendwheeler/poems-by-glen/pantoum
  A pantoum by Glen Wheeler.

• Pantoum of the Great Depression

  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/books/features/19980920.htm
  By Donald Justice. Introduced by Robert Haas.

• Pantoum, An Explanation

  http://www.angelfire.com/ok/mikkspen/Pantoum.html
  With links to pantoums by Deane P. Goodwin and Mikki Pennington.

• Pantoums for Free

  http://www.poemsforfree.com/pantoums.html
  A collection by Nicholas Gordon that can be used free for any personal or non-commercial purpose.

• Parent's Pantoum

  https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/parents-pantoum
  By Carolyn Kizer. Includes RealAudio clip of poet reading the work. Part of The Academy of American Poets Web site.

• Poetry Form - The Pantoum

  http://www.baymoon.com/~ariadne/form/pantoum.htm
  A description and explanation of the form, with examples and a step-by-step guide to writing one.

• Poetry Knowledge Zone: Pantoum

  http://www.boloji.com/index.cfm?md=Content&sd=KnowledgeZone&KnowledgeZoneID=19
  Explanation, history, and step-by-step instructions for writing by Smitha Chakravarthula. Includes examples.

• Stillbirth

  https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/stillbirth
  A pantoum about grief by Laure-Anne Bosselar.

 

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