I am not a big fan of strict-form structured poetry. This form is called a sestina, and was written in response to a prompt at dVerse Poets. This form was quite challenging, so I wrote a tongue-in-cheek sestina in response. Please read lightheartedly.
my witty sense of humor quickly waning
trying to pursue this poetic violation
this form of 6 times 6 plus 3 is cruelty
it’s a soul-debilitating stifling threat
it traps my free-thinking in consternation
how can I avoid this creative consternation
and free my poet’s soul from these chains
I must resist this frightful pending threat
I fear my will to fight is slowly waning
as my poet’s spirit suffers this cruelty
can my true voice survive this violation
I must stand strong against this violation
stimulate my voice ‘midst this consternation
shield my free expression from this cruelty
my soul must not falter ‘neath these chains
resolve must be steady — be never waning
it’s imperative I withstand this awful threat
is it fair a poet be subjected to such threat
why must I confront such heartless violation
you see why my resistance might be waning
entangled in this creative consternation
and the pressing weight of these heavy chains
you must admit that this is unusual cruelty
I know that others here now face this cruelty
and must also stare down this unseemly threat
others here endure the heft of these same chains
I am not the only one who feels the violation
many victims here caught in this consternation
likely feeling their courage is ever waning
my love of pure free verse is never waning
I steadfastly rebuke this attempt at cruelty
I will not be swayed by foolish consternation
nor will I cower to this mean but failed threat
my poet’s voice will overcome this violation
I’ll wield my poet’s pen to break the chains
free of poetic consternation, my creativity’s no longer waning
chains on my poet’s soul are broken, I am beyond the cruelty
no more threat to my free thinking, I’ve survived the violation
rob kistner © 2019
The sestina is indeed a cruel form, Rob, long and rigid, but it has been interesting to give it a go. It was fun to read your ‘tongue-in-cheek’ response!
Thanks Kim. Long rigid and tedious — no fun, no thanks! 🙂
I love it and you need to know you are not the only poet who has expressed their feelings about the sestina in a sestina. You did it though, Rob. Bravo. Now, if I may add to the cruelty, the end lines of the envoi want to be the assigned words. I’m sorry, but the whole thing is so good you could surely tweak it a little, if you want to.
It was interesting Victoria. I wrote the two, are not satisfied fully with either. These are the only two I will ever do. I have absolutely no enthusiasm for the form, so I fall cold on wanting to improve them. Who knows?
Rob, one thing I’ve already learned about sestina (even the name of it sounds like a wicked siren!) is that the looking at the 6 words chosen gives an idea of the approach to her evil ways 😉 Wonderful construction and advocacy for those under her wicked spell for the next month.
I did two. Last two I will ever do. Thank you for being kind Lisa…:-)
You are welcome. I’m working on one with colors on every line as an experiment. Wish me luck!
That sounds compelling Lisa — definitely good luck! 🙂
my comment disappeared. hope you got it.
Got it Lisa… 🙂
yay!
🙂
Goodness, you did it. Cruel it may be, but challenging to the mind and pen. I must admit the structure of poetry form inspire me to be more creative. If you don’t mind me saying so, if you want to improve this, the envoi may be a good start. But I got the message, smiles.
You are right Grace, I hate my last three lines. i just can’t find any enthusiasm to go back trying to force an ending into the form. I have a great ending, but it is not “certified” sestina.
The thing that’s I like about a sestina is that it’s a great form for driving in a point. I loved your expression for this form, I could feel your fight with this rigid form.
It is rigid and I was arguing with it all the way Astrid. My emotions flow when I write. An arbitrary architecture that I must force my emotions into, leaves me cold.
I too, found it to be quite challenging, but what a sense of accomplishment when I did it! Well done Rob.
Thank Linda! The challenge for me of the sestina is that I simply do not like the form, so I don’t enjoy writing it. Even the best of the many I have read now in the last week — strike me as forced and pretentious. I don’t see flow and beauty in the style. I actually don’t truly “LIKE” any poetic forms. I want to say what flows emotionally natural from my heart and mind at the time of writing. To me, tapping that pure inspiration is what it means to be poetic. Going back and forcing my soul into a “rigid apparatus” introduces pretense and insincerity. It’s a bit like being a painter vs painting by number. Just my humble opinion. But thank you again for the kind words Linda… 🙂
Christ, why don’t you tell me how you really feel, brother? Clever, though, to register your frustration and consternation within the poem. To your credit, except for the last 3 lines, you rocked the form.
Thanks Glenn! I hate the last three lines, but I think my discomfort with, and disinterest in the form has stifled my creative juices. I did the second one entitled “Such Wonder” to see if my love of nature would elevate my enthusiasm for the sestina… NOPE! …just not my thing. These are the only two I will likely ever do?
Excellent! I wish there was a reblog button on your site.
Thank you Reena! 🙂
Myself I do love the challenge of the form, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. Good that you stood up to the challenge.
The challenge I embrace, as you do Björn — still not fond of the form. Though it was a better experience writing the second one, focusing on nature.
Couldn’t agree more Rob, you did a great job with the form but it’s hard to create any beauty with it, you hit the nail on the head when you called it tedious, I’ve made a few tries but I can’t get past 2 verses without getting bored. JIM
Thank you JIM, but like I said, I find it tedious trying to satisfy an arbitrary structure with my creative flow — it is stifling.
A good echo of my own thoughts (though mine were not quite so poetic) when trying to puzzle out the instructions for this form. Well done!
Thank you, wrote two, not something I’ll likely ever do — again. Appreciate the compliment Kerfe.
Sestinas are sadistic! Yet you are a survivor, Rob. Good one.
Thank you Lynn.
I note your voice survived just fine!
Thank you — and of course Rosemary, I keep it encased in solid impervious sarcasm… 🙂
ha, indeed cruel and challenging especially the last 3 lines. I think you have captured the madness well.
Thank you True… 🙂