A pantoum can be of any length and any meter. Its defining feature is that its stanzas are each four lines, and each line repeats once in the poem, in a fixed order.
My greatest fear is fear of death.
Cruel death, please spare me in my bed.
A thought that makes me short of breath:
New tales await me—yet unread.
Cruel death? Please. Spare me. In my bed,
I’m sure of sleep and pleasures new.
New tales await me yet—unread.
Oh, may I love and be loved, too.
I’m sure of sleep and pleasures new.
I’m not afraid of going flat.
Oh, may I love and be loved, too.
How blessed am I if I may that!
I’m not afraid of going flat.
A thought that makes me short of breath:
How blessed am I, if I may, that
My greatest fear is fear of death.
Michael Karson, Ph.D. 