Dear friend of the true blue shade
Sis-ter, believe it or not,
Since we were in the third grade
The distance thickens the plot.

Sis-ter, believe it or not
Lincoln to Jamaica Plain
The distance thickens the plot.
To Westford where she remains.

Lincoln to Jamaica Plain
Love rules, and SPIT! is the game.
In Westford where she remains
My pal and one gorgeous dame.

Love rules, and SPIT! is the game
Hi-fi plays “Sherry” and “Dawn,”
My pal, and one gorgeous dame
Sing it right now, “Let’s Hang On!”

Hi-fi plays “Sherry” and “Dawn,
We laugh, cry and give bear hugs
Sing it right now, “Let’s Hang On!”
From a distance, my heart tugs

We laugh, cry and give bear hugs
Since we were in the third grade
From a distance, my heart tugs
Dear friend of the true blue shade.

© Martha Clark Scala, 2006

What is a Pantoum?

Here is my best summary: A Pantoum is made up of at least 5 quatrains. A quatrain is 4 lines and typically, lines 1 and 3 rhyme, and lines 2 and 4 rhyme. Every line in a Pantoum is used at least twice. It is okay to take some liberties in the repeat of the line later in the poem. If each line has the same or roughly the same number of syllables, the rhythm gets a nice flow to it.

Here is how you incorporate the repeated lines:

First quatrain: lines 1 and 3 rhyme, and lines 2 and 4 rhyme.

Second quatrain: Lines 2 and 4 of the 1st quatrain become lines 1 and 3 of this one.

Third quatrain: Lines 2 and 4 of the 2nd quatrain become lines 1 and 3 of this one.

Fourth quatrain: Lines 2 and 4 of the 3rd quatrain become lines 1 and 3 of this one.

Fifth (or last, if more than 5) quatrain: The 1st line of the 1st quatrain is the LAST line. The 3rd line of the 1st quatrain is the SECOND line of this one. And Lines 2 and 4 of the 4th (or previous, if more than 5) quatrain become lines 1 and 3 of this one.

Now, go back and look at the Pantoum above, and see if I did it right!

By the way, a Pantoum really hums when it is read out loud.