WoPoLi

A Pantoum of Grateful Prayer

A Pantoum is a form of poetry composed of quatrains (four-line stanzas) in which the second and fourth lines of each stanza are repeated as the first and third lines of the following stanza. This creates a chain-like structure where the lines interweave through repetition. The traditional Pantoum concludes by repeating the first line of the poem as the final line, bringing the poem full circle. The rhyme scheme is typically ABAB, though rhyme isn’t strictly required.

A Pantoum of Grateful Prayer

Tomorrow is not promised, life’s a gift,
I pray for one more day with you, my dear.
To God I cry, “Please grant my heart’s uplift,”
Another sunrise filled with love and cheer.

I pray for one more day with you, my dear,
Though grateful for the life God’s blessed to me.
Another sunrise filled with love and cheer,
Oh Lord, let me live on, past ninety-three.

Though grateful for the life God’s blessed to me,
If it’s my time, I shall not beg nor fight.
Oh Lord, let me live on, past ninety-three,
But if I go, please hold me through the night.

If it’s my time, I shall not beg nor fight,
To God I cry, “Please grant my heart’s uplift.”
But if I go, please hold me through the night,
Tomorrow is not promised, life’s a gift.

Imperfect Pantoum: SALIE DAVIS
1) White Bird, Mother Bird,
2) A symbol through time…
3) Two young ones to nurture to their prime.
4) Black Bird, Father Bird,

2) A symbol through time…
5) And the domestic flower grows a full bloom
6) With a green leaf beside.
7) Changed with time, mother bird, be on guard!

8) Alone your young lie exposed…
3) Two young ones to nurture to their prime.
9) A wild grass grows.
4) Black bird, Father bird!…

5) And the domestic flower grows a full bloom
6) With a green leaf beside…
7) Changed with time, Mother bird be on guard!
10) Hurry home Black bird for

8) Alone your young lie exposed.
9) A wild grass grows.
10) Hurry home black bird for
1) White bird, mother Bird.

This poem incorporates some of the repetition that defines a Pantoum, it doesn’t follow the exact structural rules of repeated lines in the traditional pattern. The poem is more freeform, blending some elements of a Pantoum with its own creative structure, particularly in terms of line count and repetition placement. This would be considered an Imperfect Pantoum.

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About the Author: Sarah B. Royal

Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.

Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.

Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.

Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.

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