during a simultaneous loss of consciousness,
humanity sees tomorrow unfold
(a pantoum ripped from television)
once upon a flash we all fall forward and then back
in the pink and yellow morning on our way to where we go
humanity experiences pieces of the future
helicopters crash, and cars drive over bridges
in the pink and yellow morning on our way to where we go
people world round experience pressing premonitions
helicopters crash, and cars drive over bridges
nothing stays the same when everything known changes
people world round experience pressing premonitions
telling stories of their future self through soul
nothing stays the same when everything known changes
every soul awakens changed from memories of morrows
telling stories of their future self through soul
humanity experiences pieces of the future
every soul awakens changed from memories of morrows
once upon a flash we all fall forward and then back
Brenda Warren 2012
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process notes if you’re interested:
I wrote this pantoum after viewing the first eight episodes of FlashForward, a fabulous quirky television series on Netflix, available to watch instantly. It is based on the book Flashforward by Robert J. Sawyer. I had a marathon of the show on Sunday, and cannot wait to watch more. There are 22 episodes total. In this movie, the whole of humanity passes out for precisely 137 seconds during which time people experience flashes of their future on a specific date. It is an interesting premise that changes the relationships people have with one another in a myriad of ways, both positive and negative. The people who don’t experience a future, begin to die before the date. The acting is good, the dialogue intelligent. What else could you ask for in a sci-fi mystery? What really occurred? hmmm…. I’m not sure yet, but I’ll know within two weeks. Addicted, I am.
If you’re addicted to verse, visit dVerse Poets Pub, where dozens of poets post links to their work for Tuesday’s OpenLinkNight.
I did not capitalize or punctuate the poem…what do you think?
undercaws 
An interesting read on an interesting concept in an interesting form.
Cheers,
Mark Butkus
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that’s some flash! excellent use of the form. no caps & punctuation works well, here. it adds a quickness, a flash, to the poem.
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This made my head spin: pantoums are like that, but yours even more so. The concept is enthralling.
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Sounds like a series I’d get addicted to too! Bring it on.
The pink and yellow morning…. I better get to bed. It’s late!
So much fun reading poetry blogs tho. I only wish I had some peanut brittle to enjoy them by.
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Lovely writing Brenda.
The show sounds very intriguing too. Hope we get to find out how it ends too 🙂
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we all fall forward forward then back makes for a very enchanting line brenda…i really dont know if i want to know my future honestly…i fear i might try to change it and then what else does it change….
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So true we all fall forward and then go back each and every time, never seem to learn, nice form too, one I never knew.
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Really like how you have worked the first lines of each stanza. A rather unique and wonderful effect.
Great work here.
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Sounds like a fascinating program, and a pantoum was a perfect vehicle, with it’s repeating lines and ground hog day sort of cadence, to express some of your thoughts, both about it and I’m sure lots of other things as well not so easily defined by pink and yellow. Good stuff.
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Brenda- Lovely pantoum… I’ll have to check out the show.
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Really nice write–I am not familiar with the form, but that is only my ignorance–sounds like a great show!
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