If you haven’t, check out my first pantoum post here.
I tend to do three-stanza pantoums, but a few of these are a little longer. Some of the ones below are more conversational, with longer lines than those in my first post.
Some say I write pantombs because they are often dark or heavy in subject matter. Most of the time that’s how I roll. I roll darkly with a gentleman’s smile. Hey! There’s a pantomb in there somewhere…
Let me know what you think!
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Ghost Wolf
Once traveling to a place north of Toronto I saw
A lone ghost wolf allowing passage chest-deep in a field of snow
One lost visitor searching for a place to stay lost
One searching lost for a place to stay perfectly found
…
A lone ghost wolf allowing passage chest-deep in a field of snow
Painted pale gold by midnight moonlight
One searching lost for a place to stay perfectly found
I drive regrets, wanting to stay and be eaten
…
Painted pale gold by midnight moonlight
One lost visitor searching for a place to stay lost
I drive regrets, wanting to stay and be eaten
Once traveling to a place north of Toronto I saw
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Conscientious Observers
Body parts found in garbage bags along snowy Michigan roads
The story talked of the neat murder and the tidy cleanup afterwards
Body found under snow on Southeast Washington sidewalk
In contrast this sloppy murder was done in such an ugly rush
…
The story talked of the neat murder and the tidy cleanup afterwards
How clever to leave the bags for sanitation prisoners to handle
In contrast this sloppy murder was done in such an ugly rush
Killers who take time to do it right are conscientious observers
…
How clever to leave the bags for sanitation prisoners to handle
Body found under snow on Southeast Washington sidewalk
Killers who take time to do it right are conscientious observers
Body parts found in garbage bags along snowy Michigan roads
Good thing nobody got hurt
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Where do you?
Where do you carry pain?
In front of class I ask the question
In my heart someone says
In my mind says another
…
I ask the class in front of the question
In my body one replies
In my mind says another
I choose not to a wise one says
…
In my body one replies
In my heart someone says
I choose not to a wise one says
Where do you carry pain?
He asks the question in front of me
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Former World’s Shortest Living Man
Former world’s shortest living man
A curse worse than every record held or broken
The reigning world’s shortest living man feels your rain of tears after they fall
And that’s a low depression once it quickly washes over you
…
A curse worse than every record held or broken
Former anything is almost that except this is larger and more significant
And that’s a low depression once it quickly washes over you
You’re the first to feel this shortness of distinction while you’re still living
…
Former anything is almost that except this is larger and more significant
The reigning world’s shortest living man feels your rain of tears after they fall
You’re the first to feel this shortness of distinction while you’re still living
Former world’s shortest living man
World’s shortest dead man is a far better title
One can hope
(Inspired by the sad image of the elderly former record holder, walking to his bed with assistance. This one makes me smile. OK it makes me laugh, but I’d rather not admit that in public, like here!)
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The Exposed Boob
Tell Shawn to tuck his left boob under his arm
The man behind the man behind me said pass it on
I’m not making this up
The exposed boob was the envy of most men and some women
…
The man behind the man behind me said pass it on
Shawn tuck your left boob under your arm
The exposed boob was the envy of most men and some women
An embarrassment to his friends who could care less
…
Shawn, touch your left boob under your arm
I’m not making this up
Tell Shawn to untuck his right boob from under his arm
I said I’m not making this up pass it on
(See! I’m not all doom and gloom!)
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Something Resembling Optimism
Mine is half full
To a good year the doctor spoke and raised his glass
It’s cancer all the best
I poured out the last of my best wine
…
To a good year the doctor spoke and again raised his glass
Advancements have been made
I poured out the best of my last wine
May the outcome be bright he said with a gulp
…
Advancements have been made
It’s cancer all the best
May the outcome be bright he said
With a gulp my year is half full
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Saint Jude Make Way
The man from the Mexican side is spotted with one foot in the US and one in Mexico.
His wife knows he keeps more than his foot stuck in US soiled.
The Rio Grande is cool for this time of year and only knee-deep where he was caught fishing.
Fishing for women and catching a visit from one with bones inside.
…
His wife knows he keeps more than his foot stuck in US soiled.
Saint Jude, make a way for Santa Muerte I pray; bring my husband back home to me.
Fishing for women and catching a visit from a lady with bones inside.
Prayers answered with white candy skulls crushed and snorted and bony ladies ready for play.
…
Saint Jude make way for Santa Muerte I pray; bring my husband back home to me.
The Rio Grande is cool for this time of year and only knee-deep where he was caught fishing.
Prayers answered with white candy skulls crushed and snorted and bony ladies’ ready foreplay.
The man from the Mexican side is spotted with one foot in the US and one in Mexico.
His body convulsing like a hooked fish fighting against the current of a grand river.
(Inspired from an NPR series about border life between US and Mexico. The story talked about some Mexican women who replaced St. Jude, patron saint of lost causes, with Santa Muerte. The wives called on Saint Death (also known as The Bony Lady) to bring back their husbands from “debauchery” their husbands were finding north of the Mexican border. The Santa Muerte symbol, a figure of a female grim reaper, had also been adopted by some of the drug gangs near the border.)
Mapping the Edge 