Pantoum of Becoming

Jennifer Armitage

Jul 6

2 min read

A while back, a dear friend of mine introduced me to pantoums.

A pantoum is a poetic form built on repetition. Lines return throughout the poem, but each time they do, they carry new meaning.

She gave me eight prompts:

From those eight beginnings came this pantoum.

I wrote it before leaving for Alaska. Reading it now that I'm home, it feels a little different.

Maybe that's the point.

Today, it is messy and beautiful and fuller than I ever imagined.

And I keep learning that I’m capable of more than I give myself credit for.

Although yesterday I carried too much and overthought too much,

As I write, I am still becoming the version of myself who trusts herself more.

And I keep learning that I’m capable of more than I give myself credit for.

When I was younger, I promised myself I would never forget what it felt like to be young and feel deeply.

As I write, I am still becoming the version of myself who trusts herself more.

I couldn’t have known that helping people untangle hard things would become part of who I am.

When I was younger, I promised myself I would never forget what it felt like to be young and feel deeply.

And anyway, life has a funny way of rerouting us toward exactly the lessons we needed.

I couldn’t have known that helping people untangle hard things would become part of who I am.

I had a dream that life could feel meaningful, adventurous, and deeply connected.

And anyway, life has a funny way of rerouting us toward exactly the lessons we needed.

Today, it is not perfect, but maybe perfection was never the dream.

I had a dream that life could feel meaningful, adventurous, and deeply connected.

Although yesterday I carried too much and overthought too much.

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