Outside my window this October night,
I see the fall slowly fall away.
The birth of frost has chilled me through,
so, shivering, I sit near the fire.

I see the fall slowly fall away.
The candles flare in pumpkins’ carved death masks,
so, shivering, I sit near the fire,
watching my jack-o-lantern at his task.

The candles flare in pumpkins’ carved death masks,
chilling my being, turning me inward,
watching my jack-o-lantern at his task,
as the moths round the flickering flame.

Chilling my being, turning be inward,
the birth of frost has chilled me through,
as the moths round the flickering flame,
outside my window this October night.

-- by Bruce Niedt, Barney Oldfield, Paul Fiorello, Craig Burgess, David Rizzo, Jenn Betts, Herb Druker, and Helene Mann

10/16/2002

Author's Note: I offered this as a writing exercise for my local poetry group. Each member wrote a repeated line for the pantoum and passed it to the next person. The results were pretty good, I think, and appropriate for the season - it was fun!

Posted on 10/17/2002
Copyright © 2025 Bruce W Niedt