The pantoum is a poem of any length, composed of four-line stanzas in which the second and

fourth lines of each stanza serve as the first and third lines of the next stanza. The last line of a
pantoum is often the same as the first.

Consider the following excerpt of the first three stanzas from Carolyn Kizer’s "Parent's
Pantoum":

Where did these enormous children come from,

More ladylike than we have ever been? 2nd line, stanza 1
Some of ours look older than we feel.
How did they appear in their long dresses 4th line, stanza 1

More ladylike than we have ever been? 2nd line, stanza 1 = 1st line, stanza 2
But they moan about their aging more than we do, 2nd line, stanza 2
In their fragile heels and long black dresses. 4 line, stanza 1 = 3rd line, stanza 2
th

They say they admire our youthful spontaneity. 4th line, stanza 2

They moan about their aging more than we do,
A somber group--why don't they brighten up?
Though they say they admire our youthful spontaneity
They beg us to be dignified like them
2nd line, stanza 2 = 1st line, stanza 3
4th line, stanza 2 = 3rd line, stanza 3
And so on….

In the last four-line stanza of the traditional pantoum, the first and third lines of the first stanza
appear again as the second and fourth lines but are inverted:
 1st line of stanza 1 = 4th line of the last stanza;
 3rd line of stanza 1 = 2nd line of the last stanza.
In modern pantoums, the 4th line of the last stanza is the same as the 1st line of stanza 1, but
the 3rd line of stanza 1 may not appear in the final stanza. (See examples provided in print.