A Pantoum is a Poem

A pantoum is a poem with a certain form.

It repeats unto itself unlike other poetry,

Making the job difficult when it tries to conform.

It's a force of habit that makes it grow like a tree.

It repeats unto itself unlike other poetry.

It's a web of branching words and lines

That force a habit to make it grow like a tree

That will later tingle all readers' spines!

It's the web of branching words and lines

That must repeat, but need not rhyme.

That we will later tingle readers' spines

Means that I intend to succeed this time.

I must repeat, but need not rhyme!

Sixteen lines, but it's really eight.

That means I intend to succeed in time

To make this poem long and great!

Sixteen lines? That's really great!

This pantoum has now surpassed that!

To make this poem long, I ate

A lot of words, and that's a fact!

This pantoum has now surpassed that,

To make this job difficult when I try to conform

A lot of words. And here's a fact:

A pantoum is a poem with a certain form.

—Steve

October 1, 1995

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