DEATH & DESTINY: a pantoum-Editor's pick

DEATH AND DESTINY—a pantoum poem



Is it I’m afraid of death?
No, why should I be afraid?
I should rather think of that
Role meant for me to be played.

No, why should I be afraid
Of that which is beyond me?
Role meant for me to be played,
Is truly my destiny.

Of that which is beyond me,
Why should I trouble myself?
Is my destiny, truly,
Not written by He Himself?

Why should I trouble myself?
He looks after all my need.
Not written by He Himself,
Is that I should stray, indeed.

He looks after all my need,
I should rather think of that.
Is that I should stray indeed?
Is it I’m afraid of death?



• Written in pantoum style in 7-7-7-7 format

*The Pantoum style is a French style, originally from Malaysia. It is an abab quatrain where the first and third lines of a stanza are same as the second and fourth lines of the previous stanza. In the last stanza, the second line is same as the third line of the first stanza while the last line of the poem is same as its opening line.

* Showcased in the Spiritual Newsletter dated 23 June 2010.

* Other poems in this style:

"PARTING WORDS—a pantoum poem" 

"MERRY CHRISTMAS:a pantoum —winner" 


M C Gupta
December 20, 2004