Pantoum Poems
Yellow Day
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
Golden blooms lined each side of the highway,
For the exotic places had long been calling.
At last the day came to put those cares away!
You must seize the moment as time is crawling.
For the exotic places had long been calling;
And there was sunshine and gaiety in my heart!
You must seize the moment as time is crawling,
Like daffodils at springtime blooming's start.
......
Another Lullaby For Insomniacs
by Alicia Elsbeth Stallings
Sleep, she will not linger:
She turns her moon-cold shoulder.
With no ring on her finger,
You cannot hope to hold her.
She turns her moon-cold shoulder
And tosses off the cover.
You cannot hope to hold her:
She has another lover.
......
Iva's Pantoum
by Marilyn Hacker
We pace each other for a long time.
I packed my anger with the beef jerky.
You are the baby on the mountain. I am
in a cold stream where I led you.
I packed my anger with the beef jerky.
You are the woman sticking her tongue out
in a cold stream where I led you.
You are the woman with spring water palms.
......
Incident
by Natasha Trethewey
We tell the story every year—
how we peered from the windows, shades drawn—
though nothing really happened,
the charred grass now green again.
We peered from the windows, shades drawn,
at the cross trussed like a Christmas tree,
the charred grass still green. Then
we darkened our rooms, lit the hurricane lamps.
At the cross trussed like a Christmas tree,
a few men gathered, white as angels in their gowns.
......
Lapis Lazuli Earth
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
Deepest lapis lazuli earth of bluest skies,
Sparkling rich treasure of the Milky Way,
With colorful dawns and ruby butterflies,
We must nurture our world so it will stay.
Sparkling rich treasure of the Milky Way,
With rich history, not too soon forgotten,
We must nurture our world so it will stay,
And bluebirds may be heard in the garden.
......
The foie-gras Factory at La Landelle
by Joe Cyr
(pantoum)
On our sojourn at La Landelle in green pastoral France,
we toured the foie-gras factory,
which makes delicious things.
Here, pallid, mute lethargic ducks
endure a force-feed dance,
disagreeing at the outset with but a fuss of wings.
Within the foie-gras factory, which makes delicious things,
......
Lovers Memory Lane
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
Where've I been in time? Seems I've passed this way before.
I remember you. Do you remember me? Life can be strange;
Like entering the same old spaces, only using different doors!
But, meeting prior isn't possible, unless time was rearranged.
I remember you. Do you remember me? Life can be strange!
Both mysterious and perplexing, what my heart is telling me;
But, meeting prior isn't possible, unless time was rearranged,
Offering on the spur of a moment, a seeming double destiny.
......
Red Robin Serenade
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
Red robin has long been singing, amidst a forest green spring,
In the burnt apricot days of sun, of teal skies fresh and clear,
Warbling to a blooming world unseen, hues coming and going.
Then red butterflies appear, like pale moon in plum mists sheer.
In the burnt apricot days of sun, of teal skies fresh and clear,
Satiny voiced red robin sings, while grazing the cream clouds.
Then red butterflies appear, like pale moon in plum mists sheer;
And all of nature's lovely crowds, are wrapt in dusky shrouds.
......
A Blanket of Diamonds
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
Golden stars tell the story, of still, night's glory,
Twinkling and flashing, in the hours of dreams,
Long after the dazzling sunset, a black cherry,
Full moon's lovely as it's pouring, satiny cream.
Twinkling and flashing, in the hours of dreams,
And filling the night with a kind of black magic,
Full moon's lovely as it's pouring, satiny cream.
The smooth lakes and soft moon flowers gleam.
......
Farewell and Goodnight
by Evelyn Judy Buehler
In the midst of red evening, leaves fall from the sky,
Yielding lavish hues and vibrancy, to gathering dusk.
Under a pearl moon, twirling leaves wave goodbye,
To warmer, brighter, gold days, in the pale stardust.
Yielding lavish hues and vibrancy, to gathering dusk,
Pretty, migratory birds, are taking the longest flight,
To warmer, brighter, gold days, in the pale stardust,
And final blooms of the season, add a cool goodnight.
......
