Pantoums from Elaine, Carole, Sylvia

Carole Perron, October 2017

Pantoum for June

Let's take a family vacation.                                                  
We'll go somewhere warm.
Pack the tents in the car
Head south to Cape Hatteras.

We'll go somewhere warm.
Let's go to the ocean, see the sand and the waves.
Head south to Cape Hatteras
Maybe even see the outdoor play in the round.

Let's go to the ocean, see the sand and the waves.
The water is warm, it's June.
Maybe even see the outdoor play in the round.
The bicentennial is the buzz word.

The water is warm, it's June.
Pack the tents in the car.
The bicentennial is the buzz word.
Let's take a family vacation.
                                                Carol Perron

The Surfer

Elaine Wright

The blond young man, blessed with youth and strength,

his rippling muscles propelling him out on his board;

the high tide pushing whitecaps toward shore,

upright, and astride the board, he awaited the perfect wave.

His rippling muscles propelling him out on his board, 

pushing through wave after wave until, 

upright, and astride the board, he awaited the perfect wave, 

the one that would bring him to his feet.

Pushing through wave after wave until

he turned his board toward shore, anticipating

the one that would bring him to his feet.

We could tell that he had done this before.

He turned his board toward shore, anticipating

the high tide pushing white caps toward shore.

We could tell that he had done this before;

the blond young man blessed with youth and strength.

Elaine Wright

09/26/17

PANTOUM FOR TOM— Sylvia Manning

Year after year, day after day
his request of life is music before coffee.
“Put the Beatles!” — like a new idea — he’ll say, 
or every once in a while, “Willy!”

His request of life is music before coffee.
We’ve played a Beatles collection till it’s no longer groovy.
Every once in a while he asks for Willy;
He likes Elvis, too, but prefers his movies.

We’ve played that Beatles collection till it’s no longer groovy
in these years since he came to need our care.
He likes Elvis too, but prefers his movies.
It’s the Beatles’ collection that’s the worst for wear.

In these years since he came to need our care
we’ve given him all the music he needs, and then some.
It’s the Beatles’ collection that’s by far the worst for wear.
But he’s learned to find even classical music winsome.

We’ve given him all the music he needs and then some.
As his body grows weaker, his health seems surprisingly sound.
He’s learned to find even classical music winsome,
but with Willy, it’s like an old lost friend’s been found.

 As his body grows weaker his health seems surprisingly sound. 
His movements, his state of mind depend on what we play. 
If it’s Willy, it’s like an old lost friend’s been found,
but year after year, day after day.

 June 9, 2003, Palmview, Texas

previously published in 2003 in Waterways:  Poetry in the Mainstream, NYC

Sylvia Manning at Mullein Hill, 2006