a sestina is a highly structured poem consisting of six six-line stanzas followed by a tercet of three lines for a total of thirty-nine lines. The same set of six words ends the lines of each of the six-line stanzas, but in a different order each time. sounds difficult? it is. here's an example:
These are merely pleasantries, yes, sweetness.
They're okay for those good enough,
at least decent, good enough get-offs,
but the myriad pet names, clever and otherwise,
cutesy, dumb, or 'quaint and curious'—
the treble in your voice, turn it down.
I know we met on a kind of down-
beat sorta day, when that sweetness
drifting from a baker-mom's curious
son's steamed wet window was about enough
to keep a one afloat—a really off
day. I would have probably caved otherwise.
beat sorta day, when that sweetness
drifting from a baker-mom's curious
son's steamed wet window was about enough
to keep a one afloat—a really off
day. I would have probably caved otherwise.
I would have had to get all warm and fuzzy otherwise.
These tendencies I keep tucked way down
in my insides' (button fly) jeans' 5th pocket boil up, and off
I go! Just hang on a second, sweetness.
The getting goes tough then soon enough
the toughies go to getting gone. Curious
These tendencies I keep tucked way down
in my insides' (button fly) jeans' 5th pocket boil up, and off
I go! Just hang on a second, sweetness.
The getting goes tough then soon enough
the toughies go to getting gone. Curious
about all these "I miss you's." A little curious.
Just a taste. Pencil tip on a tongue and, otherwise
healthy, just mentally gonzo, I guess. Enough
"I need to see you's," too. Deeply down
there somewhere there's a certain sweetness,
maybe, but I just don't see it. So I'm off.
Just a taste. Pencil tip on a tongue and, otherwise
healthy, just mentally gonzo, I guess. Enough
"I need to see you's," too. Deeply down
there somewhere there's a certain sweetness,
maybe, but I just don't see it. So I'm off.
I've thrown on some Lizz Wright, so back off
for a track...Okay, so back to that curious
way we/you/I/she/they could squeeze the sweetness
from a kitty cat. I'll go, I mean, otherwise
I'll stay. It's a whatever kind of down,
down, down, down day. I think it's broken.
for a track...Okay, so back to that curious
way we/you/I/she/they could squeeze the sweetness
from a kitty cat. I'll go, I mean, otherwise
I'll stay. It's a whatever kind of down,
down, down, down day. I think it's broken.
No, hang on—"enough, enough, enough." I went off.
I'm sorry. It's this letdown ending part, all curious
and crushed up, but otherwise touched. (signed)
Sweetness.
I'm sorry. It's this letdown ending part, all curious
and crushed up, but otherwise touched. (signed)
Sweetness.
2 comments:
"These tendencies I keep tucked way down/in my insides' (button fly) jeans' 5th pocket boil up, and off/I go!"
Sometimes you write and I feel like I can hear you speaking the words. The above quote is one moment. Great piece. :-)
Thanks darling. I'm looking at the date you wrote this comment. February 4th...was a very good day.
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