The pantoum is derived from the pantun, a Malay verse form – specifically from the pantun berkait, a series of interwoven quatrains.The primitive origin is evident in the repetition of lines possibly derived from the rhythmic beating of the Malasian tom-tom.

An English translation of such a pantun berkait appeared in William Marsden’s A Dictionary and Grammar of the Malayan Language in 1812. Victor Hugo published an unrhymed French version by Ernest Fouinet of this poem in the notes to Les Orientales (1829) and subsequent French poets began to make their own attempts at composing original “pantoums”. Leconte de Lisle published five pantoums in his Poèmes Tragiques (1884). Baudelaire’s famous poem “Harmonie du soir” is usually cited as an example of the form, but it is irregular. The stanzas rhyme abba rather than the expected abab, and the last line, which is supposed to be the same as the first, is original. The repetition in a Pantoum made this form popular with audiences. The repetition allows the listener to catch the poem more clearly at first hearing or first reading.

Form –

The poem may be any number of quatrains each with a rhyme scheme of abab. [However there are also poems in English that vary from this with a rhyme scheme of abba.] The second and fourth lines of the first stanza repeat entirely as the first and third lines of the subsequent stanza. This continues for as many stanzas as needed until the last stanza in which the preceding stanza’s second and fourth lines become the first and third lines. And the third line of the first stanza becomes the second of the last one and the first line of the first stanza becomes the last line of the poem so that the poem begins and ends with the same line.  The constant that remains the same is that the first and last lines repeat to bring the poem full circle. Although there are deviations which do not repeat first line as last; nevertheless, it seems this was the original intent.  As the lines repeat it is desired that the emphasis or meaning change with the repetitions.

So if you are writing a five stanza poem, the scheme would look like this:

1 2 3 4 –   Lines in first quatrain.
2 5 4 6 –   Lines in second quatrain.
5 7 6 8 –   Lines in third quatrain.
7 9 8 10 – Lines in fourth quatrain.
9 3 10 1 – Lines in fifth and final quatrain.

Variation:

There is also the imperfect pantoum, in which the final stanza differs from the form stated above, its second and fourth lines may be different from any preceding lines.

Here are some hints for composing one:

Draft the first quatrain. Layout the lines that will repeat – the second and fourth lines go to their positions in the framework of the second quatrain, while the first and third lines hold places in what will become the final stanza. Construct your second stanza. Layout the second and fourth lines of that quatrain in the framework of the next quatrain.Continue with these steps. Be sure to follow the above guidelines for form. When you are approaching the desired length for you Pantoum, start looking for lines that fit in your current quatrain and can also work in the final quatrain. Modify the repeated sentences to shape the poem.

Here is the original of Baudelaire’s famous Pantoum, Harmonie du Soir, published in 1857 Fleurs du mal

Harmonie du soir

Voici venir les temps où vibrant sur sa tige
Chaque fleur s’évapore ainsi qu’un encensoir;
Les sons et les parfums tournent dans l’air du soir;
Valse mélancolique et langoureux vertige!

Chaque fleur s’évapore ainsi qu’un encensoir;
Le violon frémit comme un coeur qu’on afflige;
Valse mélancolique et langoureux vertige!
Le ciel est triste et beau comme un grand reposoir.

Le violon frémit comme un coeur qu’on afflige,
Un coeur tendre, qui hait le néant vaste et noir!
Le ciel est triste et beau comme un grand reposoir;
Le soleil s’est noyé dans son sang qui se fige.

Un coeur tendre, qui hait le néant vaste et noir,
Du passé lumineux recueille tout vestige!
Le soleil s’est noyé dans son sang qui se fige…
Ton souvenir en moi luit comme un ostensoir!
— Charles Baudelaire

And one of many English translations:

Harmonie du soir

the hours approach when vibrant in the breeze,
a censer swoons to every swaying flower;
blown tunes and scents in turn enchant the bower;
languorous waltz of swirling fancies these!

a censer swoons in every swaying flower;
the quivering violins cry out, decrease;
languorous waltz of swirling fancies these!
mournful and fair the heavenly altars tower.

the quivering violins cry out, decrease;
like hearts of love the Void must overpower!
mournful and fair the heavenly altars tower.
the drowned sun bleeds in fast congealing seas.

a heart of love the Void must overpower
peers for a vanished day’s last vestiges!
the drowned sun bleeds in fast congealing seas…
and like a Host thy flaming memories flower!
— Lewis Piaget Shanks, Flowers of Evil (New York: Ives Washburn, 1931)

A pantoum that may be very familiar are the lyrics to the song I Am Going To Like It Here from the musical Flower Drum Song by Rogers and Hammerstein. As far as I can tell it is a perfectly conceived example of the Pantoum and most delightfully sung by Miyoshi Umeki in the movie version. There are slight variations in the lines as necessary to change meaning and complete the song. I have inserted a link to the clip above. Here are the lyrics written out:

I’M GOING TO LIKE IT HERE

I’m going to like it here.
There is something about the place,
An encouraging atmosphere,
Like a smile on a friendly face.

There is something about the place,
So caressing and warm it is.
Like a smile on a friendly face,
Like a port in a storm it is.

So caressing and warm it is.
All the people are so sincere.
Like a port in a storm it is.
I am going to like here.

All the people are so sincere.
There’s especially one I like.
I am going to like here.
It’s the father’s first son I like.

There’s especially one I like.
There is something about his face.
It’s the father’s first son I like.
He’s the reason I love the place.

There is something about his face.
I would follow him anywhere.
If he goes to another place,
I am going to like it there.

Have fun with this. You may link your Pantoum with Mr. Linky below.
I’ll be by to read later. Thanks everyone for reading and linking,
Gay