Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A kind of short improvised poem in vogue among the Malays.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • We've got the city known as the home of the pantun, plus Don Paterson with his third Forward Prize.

    Archive 2009-10-01 Rus Bowden 2009

  • Although the city's love for classical Malay poetry has endured for centuries, it was Suryatati, or Tatik, as she is called, who officially made Tanjungpinang the home of pantun.

    News at Eleven: Billboards hold pantun reminding people Rus Bowden 2009

  • We've got the city known as the home of the pantun, plus Don Paterson with his third Forward Prize.

    October 13th forum announcement Rus Bowden 2009

  • "And you have to be clever in using words, because pantun have to be concise and have to have beauty in them,"

    Archive 2009-10-01 Rus Bowden 2009

  • News at Eleven: Billboards hold pantun reminding people to pay their taxes, youngsters use pantun to flirt via SMS and it is a custom for the quatrains to be recited at weddings.

    Archive 2009-10-01 Rus Bowden 2009

  • Poetry & Poets in Rags: News at Eleven: Billboards hold pantun reminding people

    News at Eleven: Billboards hold pantun reminding people Rus Bowden 2009

  • News at Eleven: Billboards hold pantun reminding people to pay their taxes, youngsters use pantun to flirt via SMS and it is a custom for the quatrains to be recited at weddings.

    News at Eleven: Billboards hold pantun reminding people Rus Bowden 2009

  • "And you have to be clever in using words, because pantun have to be concise and have to have beauty in them,"

    News at Eleven: Billboards hold pantun reminding people Rus Bowden 2009

  • Although the city's love for classical Malay poetry has endured for centuries, it was Suryatati, or Tatik, as she is called, who officially made Tanjungpinang the home of pantun.

    Archive 2009-10-01 Rus Bowden 2009

  • Cantiknya sungguh Tasek Chini, pemandangannya indah permai sekali, seronoknya Kak Teh datang ke sini membaca pantun blog Bibliobibuli.

    Six Pantuns For Lost Love Sharon Bakar 2005

Comments

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  • A traditional Malay quatrain.

    One which was recited to me by a funny old fish-seller called Wak James was as follows:

    Kalau ada jarum patah

    Jangan disimpan di dalam peti

    Kalau saya salah sepatah

    Jangan disimpan di dalam hati

    Translation (though I am not a Winstedt):

    If a needle should carelessly break

    Pray, set the fragments safely apart

    And if my tongue hath carelessly spake

    Keep not the harshness within your heart.

    A very concise discussion of pantuns is here.

    December 7, 2007