0
Anita_a Posted 21 years ago
What is this called?
Nick Gordon
Love needs its hour in the sun
Or like a flower it will fade.
But happiness depends upon
The proper mix of light and shade.
Or like a flower it will fade
Into the wall of unpicked dreams.
The proper mix of light and shade
Takes more courage than it seems.
Into the wall of unpicked dreams
Love fades, afraid to speak. This poem
Takes more courage than it seems.
You’re fading, too, when you come home.
Love fades, afraid to speak this poem.
But happiness depends upon
Your fading, too. When you come home,
Love needs its hour in the sun.
What is this called ? what are the rules?
Love needs its hour in the sun
Or like a flower it will fade.
But happiness depends upon
The proper mix of light and shade.
Or like a flower it will fade
Into the wall of unpicked dreams.
The proper mix of light and shade
Takes more courage than it seems.
Into the wall of unpicked dreams
Love fades, afraid to speak. This poem
Takes more courage than it seems.
You’re fading, too, when you come home.
Love fades, afraid to speak this poem.
But happiness depends upon
Your fading, too. When you come home,
Love needs its hour in the sun.
What is this called ? what are the rules?
Top answer
Hello Anita This is a 'pantoum'. The 2nd and 4th lines of each stanza become the 1st and 3rd lines of the next. Then in the last stanza, you repeat the 1st and 3rd lines of the first stanza.
- Hello Anita This is a 'pantoum'.
- The 2nd and 4th lines of each stanza become the 1st and 3rd lines of the next.
- Then in the last stanza, you repeat the 1st and 3rd lines of the first stanza.
- e.
- A1 B1 A2 B2 B1 C1 B2 C2 C1 D1 C2 D2 D1 A2 D2 A1 I can't think of any good examples in English; but this poem by Charles Baudelaire is quite a famous French pantoum: Harmonie du Soir Voici venir les temps où vibrant sur sa tige Chaque fleur s'évapore ainsi qu'un encensoir; Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l'air du soir; Valse mélancolique et langoureux vertige!
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
6 Answers
0
Hello Anita
This is a 'pantoum'. The 2nd and 4th lines of each stanza become the 1st and 3rd lines of the next. Then in the last stanza, you repeat the 1st and 3rd lines of the first stanza. So every line appears twice (you're allowed to vary the meaning a little, as Nick Gordon does here), i.e.
A1
B1
A2
B2
B1
C1
B2
C2
C1
This is a 'pantoum'. The 2nd and 4th lines of each stanza become the 1st and 3rd lines of the next. Then in the last stanza, you repeat the 1st and 3rd lines of the first stanza. So every line appears twice (you're allowed to vary the meaning a little, as Nick Gordon does here), i.e.
A1
B1
A2
B2
B1
C1
B2
C2
C1
00
0
Mr.P do u think 'by the park ' is written by this rule? Though, I have added more lines... is that permissible or should it be only four stanzas?
00
0
Hello Anita
Yes, I think they could be considered pantoums! I don't think it matters if it's longer than 4 stanzas – it's meant to be a 'difficult' form, and making it longer certainly doesn't make it easier.
It has an interesting effect, doesn't it? I think I read somewhere that the pantoum is based on a Malaysian form, but I may have misremembered.
(To answer your
Yes, I think they could be considered pantoums! I don't think it matters if it's longer than 4 stanzas – it's meant to be a 'difficult' form, and making it longer certainly doesn't make it easier.
It has an interesting effect, doesn't it? I think I read somewhere that the pantoum is based on a Malaysian form, but I may have misremembered.
(To answer your
00
I liked it very much and so have been trying to write some in this style , tho like u said, its a little difficult and an effort has to be made.
0
Related Questions