As part of my Virtual Summer Book Club , I started reading the second book yesterday:

I was drawn to including this book as a summer read because I saw that a poem was written on each of the 50 pages, following LOTS of different forms. I will admit, I am always in awe during the month of March when Slicers share their small moment as a “golden shovel poem” or a “tanka” or ‘limerack”. I’ve never been one to spend time writing poetry as a form. This book’s index lists 47 forms. I was hoping that along with enjoying poems from A-Z, I could also be inspired to learn about a format and give writing a poem in that form a try.

I was further inspired to give writing poetry a try when I read the Authors’ Note. “It forced us to stretch beyond our poetic comfort zones. Each of us naturally gravitates toward writing free verse poems, so challenging ourselves to create form poems was both terrifying and exhilarating…We appreciate how more deeply understanding the constraints of form poetry is already helping us to write stronger free verse poems.” (pg. 110-111) If these two poets also were challenged by writing in a form, I could also give it a try.

On page 12, I learned about a form of poetry called PANTOUM. The definition explained it is writing that is “a series of quatrains, with the second and fourth lines of each quatrain repeated as the first and third lines of the next. The second and fourth stanza repeat the first and third lines of the first stanza, but in the opposite order (ending wih the first line of the poem).” (pg. 12)

I also went online and asked google for more info. At POETS.ORG, I learned:
The pantoum originated in Malaysia in the fifteenth-century as a short folk poem, typically made up of two rhyming couplets that were recited or sung. However, as the pantoum spread, and Western writers altered and adapted the form, the importance of rhyming and brevity diminished.

But what really helped me was this LINK to a substack written by Pádraig Ó Tuama , the author of the other Virtual Summer Book Club book. Along with teaching me about this format, he suggested a way to write it by:.

1. Choosing an OBJECT that is meaningful
2. Then answer eight questions and use the answers for the 16 lines.

Then Padraig gave me the visual I needed!
Arrange the 8 lines in the following order (each line is repeated, so this will turn into a 16-line poem). 

1
2
3
4

2
5
4
6

5
7
6
8

7
3
8
1

I decided my object would be the quilt I made for my daughter as a high school graduation gift. To make the quilt, I used the clothing she wore growing up. I started answering the eight questions. However, I still wasn’t sure I could wrote this format. Then I met with Fran and Barb. During the summer, we are meeting on Thursdays to write. I mentioned what I was trying. They both wanted to try too. So, I set the timer for 30 minutes and tried writing my first pantoum.

1 an 18-year collection of outfits
2 laying at the edge of the dorm room bed
3 stitched with threads of love and hope
4 first onesie worn in the NICU in the center

2 laying at the edge of the dorm room bed
5 thirty-five 3×3 squares, cut and arranged so orderly
4 first onesie worn in the NICU in the center
6 sunflower dress, plaid uniform, red flannel PJs & yellow soccer shirt

5 thirty-five 3×3 squares, cut and arranged so orderly
7 a childhood revealed through a blankie
6 sunflower dress, plaid uniform, red flannel PJs & yellow soccer shirt
8 a story connection to each fabric square

7 a childhood revealed through a blankie
3 stitched with threads of love and hope
8 a story connection to each fabric square
1 an 18-year collection of outfits

Unexpectedly, I now can say I had a positive experience with writing a poetry form.

Grateful for the nudge from Barb and Fran.
Grateful that in the 15th century in Malaysa, poets created this format.
Grateful that I am exploring poetry this summer by using the book Dictionary For a Better World and learning from Pádraig Ó Tuama.