Pantoum Starter

Ocean in the back yard. Begs for a pantoum!
Send it to me.
Photo: Bob Morton, Cape May, NJ

Construction Workers and Poetry

How about watching Bill Murray read poetry to the people constructing Poet House!
Light. Fun. REAL.
HERE'S THE LINK:
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/celebrities/bill_murray_reads_poetry_to_manhattan_construction_workers_160152.asp
Video of the first poetry reading at Poets House, 10 River Terrace, NYC.

April is Poetry Month

Carrying a poem in your pocket this month is the advice of the Academy of American Poets. My advice---carry a pantoum. Yes, a pantoum. Light in the pocket, but deep in the heart.

Save Angelo's--Write a Pantoum

Between cool designer stores on Colombus Ave, shoe repair thrives...Pantoum anyone?

MY FAVORITE PANTOUM

Traffic Report: This is Pale Otis in the Chopper
    by Ron Overton

Paul, we're bumper to bumper on the L.I.E.,
we have several overturned cars and carnage at Exit 43.
There's lying and backbiting on the George Washington Bridge
due to a car on fire under the apartments. (What?)

We have several overturned cars and carnage at Exit 43,
drivers strongly advised to take the high road.
Due to a car on fire under the apartments. (What?),
we've got a ton of rubbernecking from inside the apartments.


Drivers are strongly advised to take the high road
there's a jackknifed tractor-trailer truck on the Southern State.
We've got a ton of rubbernecking from inside the apartments,
all tenants should snap their noggins back inside.

There's a jackknifed tractor-trailer truck on the Southern State,
we suggest scooting over to the Long Island Expressway.
All tenants should snap thoer noggins back inside,
fiercely random thunder storms are hightailing it our way.

We suggest scooting over to the Long Island Expressway,
traffic is flowing smoothly until the Second Coming.
Fiercely random thunder storms are hightailing it our way,
please stay indoors along with your neo-formalist friends.

Traffic is flowing smoothly until the Second Coming,
don't sweat the chemical fire engulfing I-80 in Paterson.
Please stay indoors along with your neo-formalist friends.
Ultimately, all roads lead to entropy and a gilded pandemonuim.

Don't sweat the chemical fire engulfing I-80 in Paterson,
frankly, we are skeptical that you will ever realize your destination.
Ultimately, all roads lead to entropy and a gilded pandemonuim,
and, as for the claustrophobic, gridlock is a hell of a way not to go.

Frankly, we're skeptical that you will ever realize your destination,
there's lying and backbiting on the George Washington Bridge,
and, as for the claustrophobic, gridlock is ahell of a way not to go.
Paul, we're bumper to bumper forever on the L.I.E.

from Psychic Killed by Train,
    published in 2002 by Hanging Loose Press, Brooklyn, NY

Coming Soon---The Best Pantoum!

Ron Overton has given his permission for me to post his pantoum!
In the meanwhile---A quote from Carl J Jung's RED BOOK"
"Take note of what the ancients taught us in images- Madness is divine."
See more at http://www.rmanyc.org/

A Poet's Response

In the Company of Linnie's Pantoums
(Based on the titles of Linnie York's chapbook of original pantoums)

by Linda Wilken



Shall I tell you my favorite

As I watch the brim of my hat meet the larger sky?

Or would you like to guess

The words and things I know transplanted onto tracing paper?



As I watch the brim of my hat meet the larger sky,

An amazing path of irony opens up to

The words and things I know, transplanted onto tracing paper,

Showing me an elaborate facade.



An amazing path of irony opens up to

An epiphany and a shimmer, finally

Showing me an elaborate facade.

So I peel layers in this circle to stillness.



An epiphany and a shimmer, finally.

Great riches lie in keen mistakes and ten quotes.

So I peel layers in this circle to stillness.

It remains untitled, beyond mandala and stories.



Great riches lie in keen mistakes and ten quotes.

The day has come, kensal green, at town landing.

It remains untitled, beyond mandala and stories,

As a villager hob-nails leather onto birch.



The day has come, kensal green, at town landing,

And morning emerges through hollow cliffs, sleepy

As a villager hob-nailing leather onto birch.

Keats and a friend quote pantoums to my socks.

And morning emerges through hollow cliffs, sleepy.
London and a coupe digest only one page of a modern prophet.
Keats and a friend quote pantoums to my socks
In Falmouth, Maine, and Maine, again.

London and a coupe digest only one page of a modern prophet.
And would you like to guess
In Falmouth, Maine, and Maine, again
How I shall tell you my favorite?


Thanks, Linda!