This Poem was Submitted By: Irene E Fraley On Date: 2003-07-30 23:08:41 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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How To Write A Sestina

1 To write a sestina, use 2 the words at the end 3 of each line. Any words 4 will do, but in the interest of the form, (this 5 is a must if it is to be accurate), 6 they should be in a certain order. 6 There is no meter with the order 1 but it is helpful if you use 5 words that have dual meaning and are accurate.  2 It is hard to know, when you start, what the end 4 of the poem will be. This 3 make the form a shoehorn of words. 3 Squeezing the poem for the correct words 6 works to bring focus and order 4 and it is this focus, this 1 strength of compression you must use 2 to bring power to the end 5 of the poem. To be accurate 5 (and it is hard to be very accurate) 3 this form is a squeezer of words 2 which will fight you to the end. 6 Therefore, when you start, write the order 1 of numbers down first. Use 4 the cut and paste to achieve this. 4 If you examine this 5 poem you will see it is accurate 1 in the ordered use 3 of the end words. 6 Read it carefully, checking the order 2 of the words at line's end. 2 Usually in the sixth stanza, you think the end 4 will never come, and you will be doing this 6 forever. The temptation is to break order 5 and forget about being accurate. 3 Don't you do it! Let your mind drink the words 1 in as good wine, and you will find their use. envoi - (fancy end, using all end words in order of first stanza) 1 To sum it up. Use the end 3 words according to the need of the poem. This 5 will assure accurate meaning, and serve the order.

Copyright © July 2003 Irene E Fraley

Additional Notes:
I wrote this for fun. A friend of mine was unable to find the pattern in a Sestina I had written, so I wrote this just to show her how it worked. Enjoy. Sometimes it is best just to play!


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