Sestina

[anthraciteowl]

A sestina is a 12th century poetic form involving an extremely structured pattern of repetition. Sometimes they are written in iambic pentameter, but I am not that awesome. Here is my first attempt.

Comments

[mithen]

The sestina is a really tough form, I like what you did with it! The looser rhythm actually works well here, makes it less rigid-sounding. I especially liked the third stanza and all the longing packed into it...

[anthraciteowl]

Thanks. I was kind of embarrassed to post it, worried that it showed more ambition than talent. It is a tough form, but I like the way the repetition emphasizes how *static* a situation is. Nothing can really change over the course of the poem: not the words, not the images, not the emotions.

I'm really glad you read it and liked it. Thanks for taking the time to comment!

[elenorasweet]

Beautiful, I love selkies. :3 Very nice repetition, nice beat, it felt quiet and still, and grey. The descriptions with the old women and children in particular tugged on my heart.

[anthraciteowl]

Thank you very much. Quiet and still and gray are exactly what I was going for. I'm glad it worked for you.

I've been thinking about selkies a lot, lately. The ideas of love, loss, and transformation in that story really appeal to me right now.

[stalinglim]

Wow. I'm impressed, honey! That's a really DAMN good poem and very sad.

Oh, Selkies.

[anthraciteowl]

Thanks! I'm glad you liked it. I'm usually reluctant to inflict my poetry on the world, but this seemed like a safe place.

Yeah, Selkies. A fine parable of love and redemption and loss.