A Pantoum challenge

A pantoum is written in quatrains (four lines each stanza). The second and fourth lines of each stanza become the exact first and third lines of the next stanza. In the last stanza, the second and fourth lines are the repeat of the third and first lines of the first stanza, bringing the pattern full circle. The rhyme scheme is abab. Below is my semi-humorous example, which hopefully carries some substance in its advice.

Don't complain, dears,
you could be penguins,
in winters beyond your darkest fears,
no signs for any destinations.

You could be penguins
stuffed into identical tuxedos,
no signs for any destinations.
What then will be your momentos?

Stuffed into identical tuxedos,
your song is your uniqueness.
What then will be your momentos?
To what identity will you profess?

Your song is your uniqueness;
should it be of light or weight?
To what identity will you profess?
Penguins have no time for hate.

Should it be of light or weight?
Both have their trumpeters.
Penguins have no time for hate;
they must step with other marchers.

Both have their trumpeters;
time is short for looking inward;
they must step with other marchers.
All you can do is to go forward.

To be frail is to be fallen
in winters beyond your darkest fears.
Only your heart cannot be frozen.
Don't complain, dears.



The contest winner will win half of the prize pool which is based on the number of entries. The second and third place winners will each share the remaining prize pool. The prize pool is currently 65.00 member dollars. There are 5 spots still open. If all open spots are used the prize pool will be 90.00 member dollars. In this contest at least 5 submissions must be made for the vote to begin.

Deadline: Contest is closed. Deadline was Friday, June 3, 2016.

Full Contest Listing