(I don't really hate pantoums, but once, when I wrote about the rules for repeating forms like pantoums and villanelles, one girl commented "I hate pantoums and villanelles. I guess I get bored easily." But this only provoked me to write a Pantoum using her words, just a little edited.)

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I hate pantoums and villanelles
because I'm very easily bored
when a poem goes on and on, and tells
the things that have been said before.

Because I'm very easily bored,
I get impatient for lots of stuff.
The things that have been said before
don't need repeating. Once is enough.

I get impatient, for lots of stuff
I get to hear throughout the day
don't need repeating. Once is enough
to understand what you have to say.

I get to hear throughout the day
the same old news again and again.
To understand what you have to say
should not be hard. Intelligent men

and women don't need those extra lines
when a poem goes on and on, and tells
what it's said before, too many times.
I hate pantoums – and villanelles!

It happened on a Summer’s morning
Hiroshima’s bomb once dropped upon that day
She was feeling tired and started yawning
Her crochet rug was tucked around her knees

Hiroshima’s bomb once dropped upon that day
The yellow capsules easily went down
Her crochet rug was tucked around her knees
She’d sent Arthur on a journey into town

The yellow capsules easily went down
She couldn’t stand another day of pain
She’d sent Arthur on a journey into town
At 82, she hoped they’d judge her sane

She couldn’t stand another day of pain
Two wars survived and still it came to this
At 82, she hoped they’d judge her sane
There was nothing left on earth that she would miss

Two wars survived and still it came to this
There is simply nothing more that can be said
There was nothing left on earth that she would miss
In a little while I hope I will be dead

There is simply nothing more that can be said
She was feeling tired and started yawning
In a little while I hope I will be dead
It happened on a Summer’s morning

He had a red raised bump from writing too long
Now, I feel a proud resistance from my 36 ‘o clock shadow’s frill
Summer cicadas, on Cranfield Road, always sang their song
and the sun set behind our blue Appalachian foothill

Now, I feel a proud resistance from my 36 ‘o clock shadow’s frill
I got to shoot Dad’s 30/30 rifle when I was fourteen
and the sun set behind our blue Appalachian foothill
No other Bayless has ever seen Peru’s countryside eaten in fire and morphine

I got to shoot Dad’s 30/30 rifle when I was fourteen
but Mom has always been a vegetarian (except for some fish)
No other Bayless has ever seen Peru’s countryside eaten in fire and morphine
Cheese, fruit, and silence is our favorite family dish

But mom has always been a vegetarian (except for some fish)
Mimi and Leiron love cats and Pops and I on ink relied
Cheese, fruit, and silence is our favorite family dish
Mimi’s glasses, shaken by sobs and laughter, fell off when he died

Mimi and Leiron love cats and Pops and I on ink relied
his dead lips were painted a shade too red, inexcusably
Mimi’s glasses, shaken by sobs and laughter, fell off when he died
The trashcan in my room was filled with murdered versions of his eulogy

his dead lips were painted a shade too pink, inexcusably
Summer cicadas, on Cranfield Road, always sang their song
The trashcan in my room was filled with murdered versions of his eulogy
He has a red raised bump from writing too long.

I have a secret
I can do it again
Peel my skin back
To reveal my bones that rot like fruit

I can do it again
Let my lies open like shells
To reveal my bones that rot like fruit
Feel me and pray for my release

Let my lies open like shells
Kiss my wounds, wrap me up
Feel me and pray for my release
I am nothing but this skeleton

I have a secret

My love, let us dance in the rain
Let it wash our tears away
Heal our wounds and clean our stain
Make us feel better today


Let it wash our tears away
Let it help us forget our sorrow
Make us feel better today
Forget yesterday and think of tomorrow


Let it help us forget our sorrow
Every storm will surely end
Forget yesterday and think of tomorrow
Feel the raindrops that really mend


Every storm will surely end
The pain, the hurt, we’ll soon forget
Feel the raindrops that really mend
Just remember the goals we set


The pain, the hurt, we’ll soon forget
Heal our wounds and clean our stain
Just remember the goals we set
My love, let us dance in the rain.

When the glass runs out of sand
Gently guide me through the night
Sit by me and hold my hand
Be my comfort and my light

Gently guide me through the night
Let us chase the shadows down
Be my comfort and my light
Let me see you smile not frown

Let us chase the shadows down
Though I see your eyes do weep
Let me see you smile not frown
Until such time as we may sleep

Though I see your eyes do weep
Sit by me and hold my hand
Until such time as we may sleep
When the glass runs out of sand

Everyday I imagine a future where I can be with you
Some things truly are impossible
In my hand is a pen that will write a poem of me and you
Happiness can't exist there

Some things truly are impossible
The ink flows into a dark puddle
Happiness can't exist there
Just move your hand, write your way into his heart!

The ink flows into a dark puddle
Like Quicksand, smothering me
Just move your hand, write your way into his heart
Maybe I can make it out

Like Quicksand, smothering me
But in this world of infinite choices
Maybe I can make it out
what will it take just to find that special day?

But in this world of infinite choices
One choice always results in more choices
What will it take just to find that special day?
When there are no more choices to make

One choice always results in more choices
Have I found everybody a fun assignment to do today?
When there are no more choices to make;
When you're here, everything that we do is fun for them anyways

Have I found everybody a fun assignment to do today?
I don't want to let you guys down
When you're here, everything that we do is fun for them anyways
Nothing I do makes anything better

I don't want to let you guys down.
When I can't even read my own feelings
If I can't make anything better,
What good are words when a smile says it all?

When I can't even read my own feelings
I don't know what to do
What good are words when a smile says it all?
No one else here feels real

I don't know what to do
And if this world won't write me an ending
We're the only two who feel real
What will it take just for me to have it all?

And if this world won't write me an ending
I can write my own ending
What will it take just for me to have it all?
How will I know when I have it all?

I can write my own ending
Does my pen only write bitter words for those who are dear to me?
How will I know when I have it all?
Is it love if I take you, or is it love if I set you free?

Does my pen only write bitter words for those who are dear to me?
This wasn't my intention
Is it love if I take you, or is it love if I set you free?
I just want to love you...

This wasn't my intention
The ink flows down into a dark puddle
I just want to love you,
How can I write love into reality?

The ink flows down into a dark puddle
I succumb to it
How can I write love into reality?
I can only give you mine

I succumb to it
If I can't hear the sound of your heartbeat
I can only give you mine
What do you call love in your reality?

If I can't hear the sound of your heartbeat
How am I sure you are real?
What do you call love in your reality?
How do I know love is real?

I'm sure that you are real;
And in your reality, if I don't know how to love you
I know love is real;
I'll leave you be.

And in your reality, if I don't know how to love you
Everyday I'll imagine a future where I can be with you
I'll leave you be
Though my hand will hold a pen that will write a poem of me and
     you

There is more free space than matter
My zenith is far from touching land
A wing tipped by the ring of Saturn
The orb that many thought unmanned

My zenith is far from touching land
With a silken era of neon speed
The orb that many thought unmanned
The Guardians acknowledged their time of need

With a silken era of neon speed
A gaseous clash of friend and foe
The Guardians acknowledged their time of need
And songs of victory may never know

I had two rats, to fill my days
Through spines of books and bed clothes
They chewed their lazy way
And when they saw you, froze

Through spines of books and bed clothes
Released out of their cage
And when they saw you, froze
For chewing was their rage

Released out of their cage
And when they saw you, froze
For chewing was their rage
Their pile of ***** grows

And when they saw you, froze
They lurked behind the dresser
Their pile of ***** grows
The cage mess is the lesser

They lurked behind the dresser
They chewed their lazy way
The cage mess is the lesser
I had two rats, to fill my days

Summer rainbow ribbon still stretches in the blue rain

As green snakes dance to the tune of charmer’s jazz flutes

Blue butterflies chase velvety bumblebees singing duets in vain

Summer laughs around red velvety roses and green fruits.



As green snakes dance to the tune of charmer’s jazz flutes

Summer ends her path over meadow, with a dream of green

Summer laughs around red velvety roses and green fruits

Moon shines behind the barrier of cloud's fence, as a queen.



Summer ends her path over meadow, with a dream of green

Into the autumn's sky with puffs of cotton clouds and floating light

Moon shines behind the barrier of cloud's fence, as a queen.

And dancing green shadows sprites appear all round the sight.



Into the autumn's sky with puffs of cotton clouds and floating light

Blue butterflies chase velvety bumblebees singing duets in vain

And dancing green shadows sprites appear all round the sight.

Summer rainbow ribbon still stretches in the blue rain.