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Alexandra Carr-Malcolm, heartbreak, loss, love, pantoum, pantun, parting, poetry, UK poet, winter, Yorkshire poet
The pantun is a traditional Malay form, a style of which was later adapted into French and then English as the pantoum. A pantun consists of rhymed quatrains (abab), with 8-12 syllables per line. The first two lines of each quatrain aren’t meant to have a formal, logical link to the second two lines, although the two halves of each quatrain are supposed to have an imaginative or imagistic connection.
I love you
but I let you go
I see through
the winter’s snow
by Alexandra Carr-Malcolm
15.04.2013
English: A snowdrop. Svenska: En snödroppe. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Worldly Winds 
Oh … that’s sweet 🙂
Thank you – it takes after me 😀
Yep, like a singer, you hold a note as far as it to goes…
As long as I don’t shatter glass with my singing then I’m fine with that!!!
going to have to fiddle with this form…it seems like it might present some challenges for me…thank you for your fine example
Yes it is an interesting one – I’ve never tried writing any of these three forms intentionally before! I’m learning so much!
Pingback: NaPoWriMo Wants Pantuns | Two Voices, One Song
Woah, you know about pantun?
Even though pantun originated from Malay culture (Malaysia and Sumatra Island), it has been adapted into other sub-cultures in Indonesia.
In Betawi weddings, the groom can see the bride only after his entourage can win the pantun battle against the bride’s gate-keepers.
I like that wedding tradition – sounds very creative and cultured! I have to admit – I only learned about Pantun from the National poetry writing month (NaPoWriMo).
It was one of their prompts – it is the first time I had a go at writing a pantun and I enjoyed it!
National poetry writing month! It sounds fun!
I wish there were events like it here in my hometown. I would love to learn more about traditional pantuns.
Let me share one with you:
Pak ketipak ketipung
Suara gendang bertalu – talu
Serentak hati bingung
Dalam hati siapa tahu
It was originally an old Malay pantun but it was later used as song lyrics.
The 1st and 2nd lines are “opening lines” or “decorative lines”; they were simply meant to invoke the rhyme: Pak ketipak ketipung, the sound of the drumbeats!”
The 3rd and the 4th line are called the “core lines” for they were the real messages: One can always pretend to look confused (and innocent) but who can tell what’s hidden in his heart (his mind)?
😀
Oh wow that is beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂
The NaPoWriMo is an internet based event, so you can still join in!
The link to the page is
http://www.napowrimo.net/2013/04/day-16/
It’s not to late to join in and I am having a go – your Pantun would be perfect for today’s challenge 🙂
Alex
🙂
Alright, I’ll check out the link!
I am not sure if I am creative enough to write my own poems but I would at least like to observe and see what it is all about!
Thank you for sharing the link!
😀
Enjoy 🙂
O, wow, I like this. It has a rythm 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Reblogged this on Sunshine Factor and commented:
Here is another new-to-me poetry style. Thanks Alexa!