WINTER: a Malayan pantoum—winner

WINTER: a Malayan pantoum—award winner


Winter is around the corner,
Now the air is cold and chilly.
In the field there is no farmer,
Empty now are pastures hilly.

Now the air is cold and chilly,
The woolen sweaters are now out.
Empty now are pastures hilly,
No one in the snow moves about.

The woolen sweaters are now out,
Now people like to stay indoors.
No one in the snow moves about.
Now carpets cover the cold floors.

Now people like to stay indoors,
Days are shorter, nights are longer
Now carpets cover the cold floors.
Clapping in camp fires is stronger.

Days are shorter, nights are longer
Winter is around the corner.
Clapping in camp fires is stronger.
In the field there is no farmer.



* Written in abab, 8-8-8-8 format.

* Awarded third prize in item #1178569, “Malayan Pantoums - Poetry Contest”, which now no longer exists.

* In this form, lines 2 and 4 of the previous stanza are repeated as lines 1 and 3 of the next stanza. In the final stanza, line 2 and 4 are same as lines 1 and 3 of the opening stanza.

* Initially written as entry no. 469531 in FAITH, NATURE & INSPIRATIONAL, {item: 959448}. Posted as an independent item on 5 March 2008.


M C Gupta
17 November 2006