(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.)

 ACCESSORY

by

Carol Mossa

Color and motion are on parade 

as she sashays down a cracked city sidewalk.

The teal backpack is careless in both content and style,

but it’s paper stuck to a boot bottom that steals the show.

As she sashays down a cracked city sidewalk

her sweater swings to the beat of her steps,

but it’s paper stuck to a boot bottom that steals the show, 

and that tells you all you need to know.

Her sweater swings to the beat of her steps,

but there’s a stowaway on her sole,

and that tells you all you need to know, 

as she hoists a bursting teal backpack.

But there’s a stowaway on her sole. 

On a free ride down cracked city streets, 

As she hoists a bursting teal backpack. 

Color and motion are on parade.