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.
to the bone
when life cuts you deep
serrated to the very bone
breathe in, breathe it in
and sit on that hot seat
serrated to the very bone
the cut pulls you deep inside
this hot seat burns and sears
an eruption of old impressions
the cut drags you into yourself
and compels a deeper holding
in this volcano of old emotion
you might slip off and fall
it demands a deeper immersion
into fear and misunderstanding
you might fall off the hot seat
rest awhile and crawl back on
parsing fear and misunderstanding
difficult and demanding work
rest awhile, but come back
this is yours alone to unwind
it’s difficult, demanding work
you wish it to be otherwise
but it’s yours alone to unwind
a puzzle of your own making
breathe in, breath it in
when life cuts you deep
2023 ©Amrita Skye Blaine
I’m writing a poem a day. These are drafts—not final versions.