The Rhythm of Return: Pantoum Poetry Workshop with Phylisha Villanueva (In-Person)

Join Westchester County Poet Laureate Phylisha Villanueva for a hypnotic journey into the pantoum—a poetic form celebrated for its rhythm, repetition, and layered meanings. First created in 15th-century Malaysia and later embraced by French and English poets, the pantoum reveals how a single line can shift and transform each time it reappears. Through guided prompts and open sharing, writers of all levels will experience how this form encourages us to see from multiple perspectives, deepening creative practice and empathy. Participants will leave with a draft of their own pantoum and a renewed understanding of poetry’s power to honor the richness and complexity of human experience.

In this workshop, participants will:

• Learn the history and unique structure of the pantoum.

• Explore how repetition shows that words, like experiences, carry different meanings for different people.

• Experiment with writing pantoums, highlighting the many perspectives we encounter worldwide.

• Reflect on how the circular nature…