Sestina

[Spicy Jack]

*cringe*


Sestina: poetry hell: 6 6-line stanzas and a 3-line conclusion. The catch: the words at the end of each line must remain the same in a set pattern. There is no rule on rhyme or meter. Yes, you can have a *bit* of wiggle room: ex: if the word is ‘house’ you can later use ‘home’, or it the word is ‘see’ you can later use ‘saw’. Keep it reasonable though.

~well, here is how we can attempt to do this. we can pick the words beforehand and set up the form. then each person can fill in as many lines as they want.

ex:
Sestina by Elizabeth Bishop
September rain falls on the house. 1
In the failing light, the old grandmother 2
sits in the kitchen with the child 3
beside the Little Marvel Stove, 4
reading the jokes from the almanac, 5
laughing and talking to hide her tears. 6

She thinks that her equinoctial tears 6
and the rain that beats on the roof of the house 1
were both foretold by the almanac, 5
but only known to a grandmother. 2
The iron kettle sings on the stove. 4
She cuts some bread and says to the child, 3

It's time for tea now; but the child 3
is watching the teakettle's small hard tears 6
dance like mad on the hot black stove, 4
the way the rain must dance on the house. 1
Tidying up, the old grandmother 2
hangs up the clever almanac 5

on its string. Birdlike, the almanac, 5
hovers half open above the child, 3
hovers above the old grandmother 2
and her teacup full of dark brown tears. 6
She shivers and says she thinks the house 1
feels chilly, and puts more wood in the stove. 4

It was to be, says the Marvel Stove. 4
I know what I know, says the almanac. 5
With crayons the child draws a rigid house 1
and a winding pathway. Then the child 3
puts in a man with buttons like tears 6
and shows it proudly to the grandmother. 2

But secretly, while the grandmother 2
busies herself about the stove, 4
the little moons fall down like tears 6
from between the pages of the almanac 5
into the flower bed the child 3
has carefully placed in the front of the house. 1

Time to plant tears, says the almanac. 5
The grandmother sings to the marvelous stove 4
and the child draws another inscrutable house. 1

[Spicy Jack]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
warm
door
friends
pie
sleep

sleep
thanksgiving
pie
warm
friends
door


door
sleep
friends
thanksgiving
warm
pie


pie
door
warm
sleep
thanksgiving
friends


friends
pie
thanksgiving
door
sleep
warm


warm
friends
sleep
pie
door
thanksgiving


thanksgiving warm
door friends
pie sleep

[trisherina]

Food and light, both make us warm

[Aphrodite]

Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.

Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends

[trisherina]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends
Mingles overhead with the aroma of fresh-baked pie,

[Spicy Jack]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends
Mingles overhead with the aroma of fresh-baked pie,
and turkey, while world outside momentarily sleeps.

[trisherina]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends
Mingles overhead with the aroma of fresh-baked pie,
and turkey, while world outside momentarily sleeps.

The taste of turkey breast is like dreaming without sleep

[Spicy Jack]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends
Mingles overhead with the aroma of fresh-baked pie,
and turkey, while world outside momentarily sleeps.

The taste of turkey breast is like dreaming without sleep,
each bite rushing with memories of past Thanksgivings.

[trisherina]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends
Mingles overhead with the aroma of fresh-baked pie,
and turkey, while world outside momentarily sleeps.

The taste of turkey breast is like dreaming without sleep,
each bite rushing with memories of past Thanksgivings.
I forget to save any room for pie

[Coffee]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends
Mingles overhead with the aroma of fresh-baked pie,
and turkey, while world outside momentarily sleeps.

The taste of turkey breast is like dreaming without sleep,
each bite rushing with memories of past Thanksgivings.
I forget to save any room for pie
there is no rush the food is warm

[Gatsby]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends
Mingles overhead with the aroma of fresh-baked pie,
and turkey, while world outside momentarily sleeps.

The taste of turkey breast is like dreaming without sleep,
each bite rushing with memories of past Thanksgivings.
I forget to save any room for pie
there is no rush the food is warm
and the room glows with the chatter of old friends,
the cold shut out beyond the heavy oak door.

[lapietra]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends
Mingles overhead with the aroma of fresh-baked pie,
and turkey, while world outside momentarily sleeps.

The taste of turkey breast is like dreaming without sleep,
each bite rushing with memories of past Thanksgivings.
I forget to save any room for pie
there is no rush the food is warm
and the room glows with the chatter of old friends,
the cold shut out beyond the heavy oak door.

Football sounds muffled behind a door
Our bellies full, we float 'tween wake and sleep
How cozy now, to nap amongst our friends
and dream of all the reasons for thanksgiving
Mother brings out dessert, fragrant and warm
Pumpkin cheesecake and fresh-baked cherry pie.

[Gatsby]

Let's all join together to celebrate a joyous Thanksgiving
Food and light, both make us warm
while a cold wind rages beyond the door.
The merry din of laughter from old friends
Mingles overhead with the aroma of fresh-baked pie,
and turkey, while world outside momentarily sleeps.

The taste of turkey breast is like dreaming without sleep,
each bite rushing with memories of past Thanksgivings.
I forget to save any room for pie
there is no rush the food is warm
and the room glows with the chatter of old friends,
the cold shut out beyond the heavy oak door.

Football sounds muffled behind a door
Our bellies full, we float 'tween wake and sleep
How cozy now, to nap amongst our friends
and dream of all the reasons for thanksgiving
Mother brings out dessert, fragrant and warm
Pumpkin cheesecake and fresh-baked cherry pie.

As we tuck into our warm pie
A light knock sounds on the door
We invite old friends into the warm
room as we rouse from half-sleep
and greet them with renewed thanksgiving
enjoying the comraderie of friends