Early June 2017, Cupertino Poet Laureate Ann Muto visited the 5th grade class of Patricia Biocini. They explored the poetry style called “pantoum.” The lines are grouped into quatrains (4-line stanzas). The final line of the Pantoum must be the same as its first line. The Pantoum has a rhyme scheme of abab in each quatrain.

While this style can seem intimidating, the students were willing to give it a try.

Below are samples from the class, shared with their permission. They exemplify what we can do when we just try!  Give the pantoum a try yourself!

Unicorn Traffic

There was a crash on Magical Lane
Unicorns are cramped
Cloud caution tape in a square
They call 9-sparkle-1-1-glitter

Unicorns are cramped
There is chaos everywhere
They call 9-sparkle-1-1-glitter
Unicorn police are on their way

There is chaos everywhere
Glitter and sparkles everywhere
Unicorn police are on their way
Rainbows flying through the air

Glitter and sparkles everywhere
Cloud caution tape in a square
Rainbows flying through the air
There is traffic on Magical Lane

By Aditi Gangasani and Sierra Chen

The Bakery

I peer through the window and I see a bakery
Pies cakes and pastries
People line up at the counter
Bakers working hard inside

Pies, cakes, and pastries
Delicious smells come from inside
Bakers working hard inside
Smiling faces everywhere

Delicious smells come from inside
Tip jar full of money
Smiling faces everywhere
Different flavors galore

Tip jar full of money
People line up at the counter
Different flavors galore
I peer through the window and I see a bakery

By Aditi Gangasani and Sierra Chen

The Sea Turtle Swims Along

The Sea Turtle swims along
Its shell glitters in the sun
Floating calmly in the sea
Nibbling on sponge coral

It’s shell glitters in the sun
Swimming swiftly from a shark
Nibbling on sponge coral
Playing in the sea

Swimming swiftly from a shark
Taking shelter in the coral
Playing in the sea
Watching fish swim by

Taking Shelter in the coral
Floating calmly in the sea
Watching fish swim by
The Sea Turtle swims along

By Savi Kolari

In the Ocean

While swimming in the ocean,
Seeing stingray swim above me,
Bubbles popping at the touch of coral,
Kelp floating in the sea.

Seeing stingray swim above me,
Turtles nibbling on coral,
Kelp floating in the sea,
Sharks racing through the ocean

Turtles nibbling on coral,
A school of fish swim past,
Sharks racing through the ocean,
Waves crashing through the water

A school of fish swim past,
Bubbles popping at the touch of coral,
Waves crashing through the water,
While swimming in the ocean

By Savi Kolari

Millie The Cat

Millie the cat!
Pouncing on string
Laying in warm sunshine
Nibbling on juicy tuna

Pouncing on string
Paws as white and fluffy as snow
Nibbling on juicy tuna
Rushing up and down the stairs.

Paws as white and fluffy as snow
Part ginger, part tabby, part every breed
Rushing up and down the stairs.
Who is this wonderful fatty?

Part ginger, part tabby, part every breed
Laying in warm sunshine
Who is this wonderful fatty?
Millie the cat!

By Jolie Han (Catalina Mao), Jennifer Hu, and Tahlia Wu

The Cat on The Moon

The cat on the moon,
Beautiful and black,
She’s the one who brings good luck,
Although she’s stuck in the sky.

Beautiful and black,
She watches over everyone,
Although she’s stuck in the sky,
She will always be there for us.

She watches over everyone,
Though she is not well-known,
She will always be there for us,
And her name is Shadowed Night.

Though she is not well-known,
She’s the one who brings good luck,
And her name is Shadowed Night,
The cat on the moon.

By Jolie Han(Catalina Mao) She will always be there for us

Sick Johnny

Johnny was sick
Maybe he was tired
He could of been choking
He might have been faking

Maybe he was tired
Or he was just out of breath
He might have been faking
He drank a lot of water

Or he was just out of breath
He ran 10 miles
He drank a lot of water
He was starting to sleep

He ran 10 miles
He could have been choking
He was starting to sleep
Johnny was sick

By Aayan Rizvi ™