Poetry Challenge #3: Sestina

Before we get started on the next incarnation of the Poetry Challenge, I would like to thank all of you who submitted your lovely entries for the Cinquain Challenge. If you missed any, be sure to read them here. My dear husband Bill submitted two just today, so do check those out.

Buckle your seatbelts, kids, this one might be bumpy! 

A sestina is a complex poem that uses a lot of repetition, particularly in the last word of each line. It is made up of six six-line stanzas (the poetic equivalent of a paragraph) and one three-line envoi. The lines may be of any length (and therefore any meter); the only restriction is that you keep recycling the six end words of your first stanza, so choose them well. Here is the order for how you use the end words:

1. ABCDEF

2. FAEBDC

3. CFDABE

4. ECBFAD

5. DEACFB

6. BDFECA

7. (envoi): ECA or ACE

The envoi must also incorporate the other three repeated words that you aren't using as the end words into the lines. 

If that sounds confusing, try applying that blueprint to an example poem.

Six Words
by Lloyd Schwartz
yes no  maybe  sometimes  always  never   Never?  Yes.  Always?  No.  Sometimes?  Maybe—   maybe  never sometimes.  Yes—  no  always:  always  maybe.  No—  never  yes.  Sometimes,   sometimes  (always)  yes.  Maybe  never . . .  No,   no—  sometimes.  Never.  Always?  Maybe.  Yes—   yes no  maybe sometimes  always never.

No guarantees mine will be that clever. You CAN use more than just the six repeated words, as well. There are several other examples of this form here.

Keep in mind that I am trying many of these forms out for the first time along with you, and this is one of those times. It took me probably close to an hour to write this, and it is likely because I chose really strange words for the repeated ones (I tried to use some of my favorite words). I apologize if this does not make sense; I think I will try to write another one later, too, but for right now my brain hurts. Here it is:

Favorites (a sestina)

They weren’t searching for the juxtaposition;

although he thought her ebullient,

they followed the same path through indigo

dusk, past the surging crowd, to a place more serene

and unexpectedly formed a connection;

some may call it serendipity.

She had prayed for serendipity,

as she had suffered an awkward juxtaposition.

she needed to reestablish her connection

with herself and her goals, to regain her ebullient

qualities, to become more serene,

and she discovered the way--through the indigo.

Yes, as she followed the boy through the indigo

she slowly discovered her serendipity

and how he could make her so serene--

a marvelous juxtaposition,

because he had thought her ebullient,

they forged their strong connection.

Since, they fostered their connection

through moods indigo

and otherwise, sometimes even ebullient,

trusting in the serendipity

of the original juxtaposition,

deeply serene.

Lately they find it harder to remain serene;

while strengthening their connection

they juggle the juxtaposition

of jobs or school making them indigo

and the serendipity

of a new being so ebullient.

The baby makes all ebullient,

while not-so-serene;

each day seems like serendipity

only deepening the connection

once found through the indigo--

a most welcome juxtaposition.

The serendipity of the connection

formed in the serene indigo:

ebullient and soulful in juxtaposition.

So, my lesson learned is, don't pick really difficult words unless you want to tie your brain in knots. Hopefully you enjoyed it somewhat anyway. I know this one sounds difficult, but I am still eager to see what you can come up with!! Try it out! I promise I won't bite.