To Write A Sestina

Introduction

I had seen this on the poem choices in the Vocal Poets community. I read a little about it and thought it might be a good one for my Glittering Fox series.

I looked on Google and this definition came back.

A sestina is a complex poetic form consisting of six six-line stanzas, followed by a three-line envoi. The key feature of a sestina is the repetition of six end words throughout the poem, arranged in a specific pattern. These six words are used as end words in each of the six stanzas, and then again in the three-line envoi.

This is the Wiki entry:

The villanelle form uses repetition to emphasise a point, but this takes it to another level.

This is essentially a Sestina about how I feel writing my first Sestina.

I included Queen's "Now I'm Here" from "Sheer Heart Attack" because those words appear in the final line of this poem.

To Write A Sestina

1️

I Know They See My Writing As A Crime

I'm Sure This Attempt Will Not Change Your Mind

This Is A Poem Of Thirty-Nine Lines

To Read These Words Will Take A Lot Of Time

When You Are Finished Please Give Me A Sign

Whatever You Say, Yes, I Will Be Fine

2️

So You Might Just Ask If I Am Still Fine

But I Still Feel That These Words Are A Crime

At The End Of This My Name I Will Sign

When I Read Your Comments I Will Not Mind

Because I Know That You Gave Me Your Time

That You Have Spent Reading My Many Lines

3️

Now, I Am Weaving These Words Into Lines

And This Sestina Is Turning Out Fine

Minutes Are Passing, Now What Is The Time

And I Now Do Not Feel This Is A Crime

And I Am Digging Out Words From My Mind

But Know I Am Still Looking For A Sign

4️

So How Will I Know When I See That Sign?

Will It Then Show Me What Are My Next Lines?

Will It Finally Make Me Lose My Mind?

Can You Tell Me Will I Still Just Be Fine?

Will They Think This Is A Dastardly Crime?

Or Tell Me, Is This Moment Now My Time?

5️

So I Am Here, See Me Biding My Time

I'm Waiting, Waiting, Waiting For My Sign

Are They Gonna Tell Me Is That A Crime?

In School Detention, I'm Writing My Lines

But When I Am Finishes I Will Be Fine

And There's Two More Verses, Hope You Don't Mind

6️

You Know That This Has Really Worked My Mind

And Now Has Finally Come To The Time

Surprisingly I Think This Worked Out Fine

And You Know What, Maybe That Is The Sign

Now Is The Time to Finish These Last Lines

And I Do Not Feel Guilty Of A Crime

7️

This Has Fried My Mind, It Has Been A Sign

Writing These Lines Has Taken So Much Time

Now I'm Here, I Am Fine, Sharing This Crime

🔢