The pantoum is a poetic form originating in 15th century Malaysia that uses repetition. It’s a poem of any length composed of four-line stanzas in which the second and fourth lines of each stanza serve as the first and third lines of the next stanza. The final stanza is often two lines from the first stanza.

sweet ruin—a pantoum

to ken what she is
beyond name and form
she entered this way
no choice in the matter

beyond name and form
that is sweet ruin
she came in this way
out of step with the others

oh! an ode to sweet ruin
she meets it with joy
on this little known path
takes solace in knowing

she meets ruin with joy
it’s the name of an anthem
takes solace in knowing
come home and be home

she entered this way
to ken what she is

2022 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.