Remember: An Advice Pantoum

Most people, when I ask them, have never heard of a pantoum.  When I ask most people what a poem can do, they don't normally reply with "Give advice." So what is a pantoum?  A pantoum is a poem that uses repeated lines to emphasize a message.  This is a standard-form pantoum, that follows a rhythmic format for repetition.  I chose to use a full-alphabet in the scheme; in other words, there are 26 different lines, and all but one of them is used twice.

Most people don't realize how easily a poem can give advice.  Most poems don't do this as obviously as this poem.  Most, like War is Kind, by Wilfred Owen, use subtlety or irony to try to prove a point, and in proving that point, tell the reader how the author thinks things should be done.  As for me, I like to be straightforward and blatantly honest whenever possible.  With that in mind, I give you Remember- a bit of advice from personal and shared experience.

-Jacob

Remember

Remember to keep things in perspective,
Because without perspective, we are lost.
Remember to live without regrets,
Because life can’t be slowed by worries and frets.
Because without perspective, we are lost,
Take a step back to look clearly down your life’s path.
Because life can’t be slowed by worries and frets,
Chase your ghosts away, not the other way around.
Take a step back to look clearly down your life’s path;
Take your time to figure out what to do, and do the math.
Chase your ghosts away, not the other way around;
Find peace in the fact that you can hold your head proud.
Take your time to figure out what to do, and do the math;
Fall asleep when you rest your head- fear no wrath.
Find peace in the fact that you can hold your head proud;
Feel the freedom to live your life out loud-
Fall asleep when you rest your head- fear no wrath.
Because you know you did it right, you can
Feel the freedom to live your life out loud-
Step up and be the person you always really have been.
Because you know you did it right, you can
Be unafraid to operate outside of the system,
Step up and be the person you always really have been.
You know that who you are isn’t who you can be:
Be unafraid to operate outside of the system,
Let yourself hear them tell you once again,
You know that who you are isn’t who you can be
Before long you will finally be able to see
Let yourself hear them tell you once again,
You know what to do, try harder and then
Before long you will finally be able to see
What it really means to have insight in the world of me.
You know what to do, try harder and then
Faith will find some new doors for you to open.
What it really means to have insight in the world of me?
The ability to look back having learned, yet trust that
Faith will find some new doors for you to open.
To look temptation in the eye and walk away,
The ability to look back having learned, yet trust that
You won’t make the same mistake next time.
To look temptation in the eye and walk away,
Take your heart’s desires and throw them away and
You won’t make the same mistake next time.
Look at defeat and remember where you could be.
Take your heart’s desires and throw them away and
Before long you will be able to take a chance to
Look at defeat and remember where you could be.
Keep your victories humble, so that
Before long you will be able to take a chance to
Remember to keep things in perspective.