Saturday, 17 August 2019
Sestina
it never ever seems to end
and probably will go on and on
miraculously sometimes granted a day angst free
then the dramas happen all over again
a flooded bathroom a leaking roof
a dispute with neighbours over plants
peace lilies a misnomer for such lovely plants
cordial relations with her neighbour will end
he has a jungle of them growing on the roof
cracking the concrete the gloves are on
more time in litigation once again
one day she hopes to find rest and be free
the likelihood is she will never be free
sunbathing in bali amongst exotic plants
finding happiness and peace again
will have to wait till her sorry end
suppose the poor thing can dream on
burnt hopes suffering like a cat on a hot tin roof
pitter patter raindrops on the roof
plumbers expensive nothing for free
drip drip in every room blood pressure rising up and on
thoughts of the albatross ants and plants
and how the world will one day end
her mind is turning somersaults again
she's never writing a sestina again
it's worse than having a leaking roof
writing a sestina a form of torture never ends
far too difficult with not one verse free
all this fuss over wretched plants
the nightmare just goes on and on
oh well c'est la vie bring it on
got to end this line with the word plants
maybe she'll climb up on the roof
pretend she is superman and be free
nope not considering that kind of end
right now a baked egg plant mozarella would be nice -remember- turn oven on
writing a sestina pestina is almost at an end woohoo never again
sing the naf song arms outstretched from the roof top it's finally over ' born free'
The form is quite complex and the poet is held to a number of strict requirements, based on the repetition of six words which follow a given pattern of repetition as the end words of each line.
The sestina contains six stanzas, each with six lines and concludes with a three line envoi. The pattern of the form is as follows:
1. A,B,C,D,E,F
2. F,A,E,B,D,C
3. C,F,D,A,B,E
4. E,C,B,F,A,D
5. D,E,A,C,F,B
6. B,D,F, E,C,A
7. FB, AD, EC. envoi
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I chuckled a bit at your struggles to keep your Sestina on straight. I also found it quite challenging to write. I enjoyed yours.
ReplyDeleteThank you. It was challenging and I don't think I'll be writing another one anytime soon(maybe ever:)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a struggle - but one that you conquered so well
ReplyDeleteshe's never writing a sestina again
ReplyDeleteit's worse than having a leaking roof
LOL... I felt just that when attempting the Canzone.. this form seems similar!
OK...now I have to check out the Canzone:)
Deleteinteresting...haha i guess you nailed it quite well.
ReplyDeleteYou did a fabulous job with the Sestina form!💖💖
ReplyDeleteYou have articulated why I have not yet attempted a sestina. It looks too hard! I enjoyed the angst and the "never again"s. Lol. You did well with it.
ReplyDeleteWell done you for taking this on and for including your process in the process. I enjoyed all your winks at the struggle of writing while writing!
ReplyDeleteYes it is, i havent written one in a very long time. Note to self - must get back to sestinas
ReplyDeleteHappy you dropped by my sumie Sunday today Cressida
Much❤🕊❤love
This made me laugh! The sestinaIs in a formI'm likely to tryIn the near future.Good job though.
ReplyDeleteI love that you’ve written a sestina about everyday dramas! I’ve experienced all three, although not all at once. I enjoyed the line:
ReplyDelete‘burnt hopes suffering like a cat on a hot tin roof’
and the envoi made me giggle: eggplant mozzarella is delicious, one of my favourite meals, and don’t think I’ll be writing another sestina either!
Sestinas are my nemesis and you've done a great job of putting all the frustrations in that form!
ReplyDeleteThe most important thing is "Were you satisfied with what you wrote in the end?" I suppose you can now say "Good, I'll never have to write one of those again." But I bet you do!
ReplyDelete