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.

pirouette—a pantoum

emptiness is not the goal
although it is a pirouette
along the wayward way
know this—there is no goal

watch that pirouette
can you lose your path?
know this—there is no goal
look for hidden doorways

you can lose your path
and get tangled in samsara
look for hidden archways
that lead you through the void

search crannies of samsara
until they bore you stiff
move on through that emptiness
don’t think that it’s a goal

samsara will bore you stiff
if you taste until you’re done
the void is not a stopping place
cherish enigma—it’s the gold

sample until you’re done
and you’re bored with every thing
paradox can be the gold
discover your love of the world

along the wayward way
emptiness is not the goal

2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.