Pantoum

We had the option to either write a pantoum or a sestina this week in poetry. I chose the pantoum, because I already had an idea that fit with the form even before we went over the sestina. The professor made me feel as though I had copped out (not intentionally, of course), but with the distasteful thoughts of Sophie Kerr looming above my head, every little lead helps. I may have given this one up here.

Anyway, this poem is probably one of my favorites so far. In response to all the pretension and ass-kissing you see here at school (and in the real world too, I suppose). My professor said it was reminiscent of Jane Austen, which I guess is a pretty nice compliment, considering I've never read Jane Austen.

How to Win

Don’t you want to know my name?
Oh you do look nice in those shoes,
how great it is to meet you—
and what wonderful work you’ve done!

You really do look nice in those shoes,
they totally flatter your figure perfectly
from that wonderful workout you do
now. I’ve heard it’s pretty tough

to flatter a figure in that but
you always do things with such ease.
Now, I’ve heard it’s pretty tough
to get a job like yours these days,

but little things like you can easily
get what you want. You look lovely—
to get a job like yours these days
is really all based on looks anyway.

Getting what you want, looking lovely,
this is all what you’re used to, isn’t it?
You base it all on looks anyway,
but by God why wouldn’t you—

you’re used to looking fantastic so
I’m not surprised you’ve done so well.
By God, you’re amazing! Won’t you
please tell me some trade secrets?

Okay, okay, I’m not surprised you won’t,
being the absolute best in your field,
the secrets aren’t always yours to tell,
but I’m still so thrilled you’re here.

You are, by far, the absolute best.
It is so great to finally meet you,
and I am truly thrilled you’re here.
Don’t you know my name by now?

Villanelle

The villanelle I wrote for my poetry class. I like the first line and nothing else about it. It's got a lot of work, but I did have a lot of fun with this form.

Watch me cleave this cleanly
like the good meat from a ham bone.
I follow the lines, discreetly

work around joints and muscle. We
eat by the bay window,
you watch light cleanly cleave

squares of yellow on the floor. Meekly
see me butcher the meal. I won’t
follow any lines when weak

with hunger. Do it meanly,
in the way I’ve shown
you how. Careful and cleanly

showing me up, you tweak
my style and claim it as your own.
You don’t even do it discreetly,

as if you were the only one hungry
for bodies fully grown.
Stop. Watch me cleave us, cleanly
following lines and not discreet.