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Nan

Administrator

Member Seraphic

since 1999-05-20

Posts 21191
Cape Cod Massachusetts USA

0 posted 1999-12-20 07:26 AM

Well then... Here we have a wonderful, and often quite frustrating, poetic format.  The Sestina is said to have been invented in Provence in the thirteenth century.  This format, unlike the Villanelle and Pantoum, doesn't repeat lines.  It only repeats end words (verbatim) from one stanza to the next - throughout 6+ stanzas.

It consists of six stanzas with six lines each (sestets), followed by a concluding tercet (the envoy).  Each of the six end words is reused in every subsequent stanza, each with a different order.  Let us consider that the first stanza has a rhyme scheme of A-B-C-D-E-F.  Here, then, would be your poetic format.

A-B-C-D-E-F
F-A-E-B-D-C
C-F-D-A-B-E
E-C-B-F-A-D
D-E-A-C-F-B
B-D-F-E-C-A
B-E
D-C
F-A

Note that the tercet is unique in that the BDF falls in the middle of the line.  The ECA are at the ends of the lines.  These end words are repeated verbatim.  Check out Skyfyre's post (she's one anxious poet)...

A major consideration is your Theme Development. You must have a theme that can be developed and maintained in a total of 39 lines. That can be trickier than you think. The tercet must resolve the questions previously set forth.

Also, a consistent meter is preferable.... This is not a simple undertaking, my friends... So - we're going to continue this workshop through to the new millennium... I know I certainly need the time.....

I thought this was school vacation time.....

..

[This message has been edited by Nan (edited 12-20-1999).]

jbouder
Member Elite

since 1999-09-18

Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash

1 posted 1999-12-20 08:26 AM

Nan:

I thought I'd get a little headstart on this sestina thing so I bought a book that gave me the basics. Never thought I'd see the day when my hair visibly receded right before my eyes.

Anyway, the book mentioned the jaberwocky of poetry: the double sestina. Do you know what the word repetition format is for such a monster? Not that I am crazy enough to try it, or anything (okay, I'm crazy enough but maybe not capable enough). Thanks.

Jim

"If I rest, I rust." - Martin Luther

Poertree
Senior Member

since 1999-11-05

Posts 1359
UK

2 posted 1999-12-20 02:59 PM

"Not a simple undertaking .. " the understatement of the century Nan. What have you gotten (notice the Americanisation just for you) me into Ruth?

.

Just a little snowed under at the moment Nan so thanks for the extension into the new year .. I'll try and post within the week if that's ok.

Philip

PS Hair line Jim??! .. ~pauses~ well I never I could've sworn there was no ... hang on a sec .. ~checks out Jim's photo~ ..well now lets see .. ~obtains magnifying glass~ .. maybe a faint brown fuzz .. ~smile~ .. give you the benefit of the doubt (heh heh) ......... well you did tell me to be brutal .. see ya

[This message has been edited by Poertree (edited 12-20-1999).]

jbouder
Member Elite

since 1999-09-18

Posts 2534
Whole Sort Of Genl Mish Mash

3 posted 1999-12-20 03:03 PM

That's "Americanization", Philip. What is your native language anyway?

Jim

"If I rest, I rust." - Martin Luther

Poertree
Senior Member

since 1999-11-05

Posts 1359
UK

4 posted 1999-12-20 03:26 PM

Touche(zzzzz) Jim ......

Latin ... why d'ya ask?

Skyfyre
Senior Member

since 1999-08-15

Posts 1906
Sitting in Michael's Lap

5 posted 1999-12-21 12:45 PM

Anxious? Me?

Nah, I was just warming up ...

--Kess

PS: (OK, so now I am kissing up) That was far from my best work, sestina-wise, but there is something special about that first post -- see if anyone can figure out what it is!

< !signature-->

You cannot choose the way of your death, but the path you choose will determine its own end.

[This message has been edited by Skyfyre (edited 12-21-1999).]

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