Students - Happy First Day of Spring! I am celebrating! Here in Western New York, we are alternating daily between warm sunny days and cold snowy days, but happily, spring bulb flowers are strong and can weather storms. Above you can see some little grape hyacinths and daffodils sprouting up in the garden outside my writing shed, Gratitude. We, too, can weather storms.
Today's poem is a poem of celebration. I have been visiting the gardens every day, walking around and welcoming each new sprout. They feel like old friends coming back after a long trip to the Land of Winter. Today's poem also follows a particular form - the pantoum. I could only find one pantoum that I've written here at The Poem Farm....a poem about wearing masks, posted on July 3, 2020.
The pantoum form is interesting in that it follows a particular repetition scheme but not a special meter. I was reminded of it by reading Stephen Dunning and William Stafford's book GETTING THE KNACK: 20 POETRY WRITING EXERCISES. You will notice in my spring pantoum that each stanza includes four lines, and in each stanza, the second and fourth lines repeat the first and third lines of the following stanza.
I love seeing messy drafts, so below you'll find mine from this morning. The numbers in parenthesis are a reminder to me that this line should repeat the line that is numbered in the parenthesis. I used a poem in Dunning and Stafford's book as a mentor for my rhyme and meter.
Tanita is hosting today's Poetry Friday roundup over at Tanita S. Davis with wise words about how poems are songs and how songs can give us strength. Each Poetry Friday, all are invited to share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship in this open and welcoming poetry community.
May you find warmth where you live this week, outside in the weather and inside of your heart. Remember that the way you act in the world can provide warmth and goodness for others too. Peace.
xo,
Amy
Finding something to celebrate as a writing nudge is such good advice. Today I'm celebrating that I love pantoums so much, and that yours makes me happy that it's Spring. I found a kind of flower I can't readily identify in the yard, and the image of your boots and the reminder of the slightly rutted and uneven surfaces -- shared across coasts - make this first day of Spring all the more memorable and real. Thank you for sharing your poem and your joy today.
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday, Poets!
Amy, so glad to see your boots in the garden! Some of our daffodils have already come and gone...and others are just unfurling. Such a lovely time of year. xo
ReplyDeleteAlways something to celebrate over here, Amy! Thank you for the wonderful pantoum and photo. Morgan said they took the babes to the park before dinner yesterday since it was such a pretty day, and Sawyer ended up splashing & stomping in the mud at the creek, as he should have. ;0) Happy Spring!
ReplyDeleteYour poem is indeed a celebration, Amy! Thanks for sharing your messy draft, too. It makes me feel better about my messes.
ReplyDeleteI love Pantoums! The repetition brings you so close to the visual and emotions of the poem. Your garden pantoum is lovely. I was right there in the mud with you!
ReplyDelete"old friends coming back after a long trip to the Land of Winter." Such a great line.
"Celebration" as a prompt is so encouraging, and what's more uplifting than celebrating spring? ❤️
ReplyDeleteI love the pantoum celebrating, Amy, and wishing I could say we had some mud! Some things are coming up anyway, but are in need of a drink!
ReplyDeleteI love how the repetition in a pantoum amps up the celebrating. Thank you, Amy.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all...I HAVE THOSE SAME BOOTS!!!
ReplyDeleteSecond of all...I'm celebrating knitting my first hat and I continue to be filled with gratitude for the one you knitted for me.
Third of all...I love pantoums and this one is no exception. Yay for spring gardens and gardening!