The poem Romanian Calusarii or Man Dancing With Horses is a Pantoum marking my debut on Plum Tree Tavern, a literary magazine I have long admired. So I am thrilled!
What is a Pantoum?
The pantoum is a poem of any length, composed of four-line stanzas in which the second and fourth lines of each stanza serve as the first and third lines of the next stanza. The last line of a pantoum is often the same as the first.
It is a poetic form derived from the pantun, a Malay verse form.
Romanian Calusarii or Man , Dancing With Horses is not my first Pantoum and hopefully not my last, I love this form of poetry.
Plum Tree Tavern
~ is a literary online magazine publishing “poetry of green witness and red protest”.
One of a kind, like the work they publish.
You can find present (and future) poems by Patricia Furstenberg on Plum Tree Tavern here.
Who are Calusarii?
Căluşarii and their dance goes back as far as the Thracians and Dacians (ancient Indo-European inhabitants of the cultural region of Dacia, located in the area near the Carpathian Mountains and west of the Black Sea, today Romania.
The Căluşarii tradition therefor tradition rises from Dacian times and it still holds its pagan essence. Led by their great priest who would ask the gods for guidance, Căluşarii would perform their ritualistic dance to fight off evil spirits, and heal the sick.
Romanian Calusarii or Man Dancing With Horses, a Pantoum
“Days fall behind on this life
Even a donkey pulls the carriage with dreams
Dusty road tamed, time creased
Men dancing like horses came our way.
Even a donkey pulls the carriage with dreams
Tell-tales ribbons, walnut staffs hold meaning
Men dancing like horses came our way.
Freezing mid-air jumps the ancient tale.
Tell-tales ribbons, walnut staffs hold meaning
Festive shouts or war-cries tamed
Freezing mid-air jumps the ancient tale.
Fearless warriors turned dancers with chiming bells.
Festive shouts or war-cries tamed
Sun draws shadows lost in iconography
Fearless warriors turned dancers with chiming bells.
We witness life winning over death once gain
Sun draws shadows lost in iconography
Tell-tales ribbons, underfoot crumbling hells
We witness life winning over death once gain
Fearless warriors turned dancers with chiming bells.Tell-tales ribbons, underfoot crumbling hells
Patricia Furstenberg
Perpetual cycle keeps death away.
Fearless warriors turned dancers with chiming bells.
Days fall behind on this life.”
(September update)
You can read more about traditional men dances and Căluşarii as well as a 100-word story, “Immortalis”, describing their dance on my blog here.
This is one of my favorite forms of poetry, and almost no one has ever heard of it (let alone attempts it). Congratulations on the published work, Patricia. It was wonderful.
Yes, they are splendid!
Thank you so very much, Staci 🙂
I wrote one once about wild mustangs. I was so proud of it. I lost it in a catastrophic computer crash and never did remember all of it. You may have (I stress the MAY) inspired me to try again.
Oh, my, wild mustangs! 🙂 What an inspired prompt.
I so hope I did, Staci.
Always learn something new from your posts.
It makes me so happy to hear (read) that, Martie 🙂
I’ve just read their DRINKING POLICY. They’re funny! 🙂 I couldn’t comment there… blogspot again. But I’m very proud of you. Well done! Congrats!
Yes 🙂 they are a unique Tavern, I enjoyed many of their poems – policy too 😉
Thank you so much, Jo. I am overjoyed to have a poem (especially this one!) published there.
I had never heard of this form of poetry. Thank you for the introduction and the pleasure of reading your poem. 🙂
Ah, Danny, you are most welcome. I always appreciate your insight into my work.
This is so well done, Patricia. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this form before, but your poem is delightful.
Thank you so much, Dan! It was a thrill writing it 🙂
Congratulations!
Thank you so much, Dawn!
Beautiful poem, Patricia. I always learn so many interesting things reading your posts! I know now what a Pantoum is and I also learnt about the Căluşarii and their dance. Thank you so much for sharing amazing content!
It is with pleasure, Blanca. 🙂 I always celebrate your visits.