Spike's Sestina: California Demons

[gehayi]

Thought I'd try something tricky this time--a sestina.

You can find the definition of a sestina here.

Comments

[debxena]

Bloody brilliant!

I read this hoping not to get spoiled (I'm still working through S4 Angel) and wasn't really, so I'm glad I did. You did a marvellous job following the rules of the Sestina - I want to write one now, and probably will - and created a beautiful, haunting and rhythmic tale out of it.

Your envoi was particularly evocative, with the last line leaving me nearly in tears. And that's pretty high praise.

Well done, Tracey. Great writing.

[gehayi]

::blush:: Thank you very much, Deb. I'm delighted that you liked it.

[sparkfrost]

i LIKE it. i love poetry, and studied sestinas in high school. the last one i wrote was three years ago, but you've inspired me to try again. im envious of your voice, its beautiful and moving.

[gehayi]

I didn't even find out about sestinas until a few years ago, courtesy of a poet friend of mine. And I'm very pleased that you thought it was good; sestinas are tricky, and Spike's voice doubly so.

[sparkfrost]

i know its a bit late, but you inspired me to try my hand at a sestina. check it out if you want. warning: its depressing

Is there anything you don't know?

[alliterator]

I didn't even know was a Sestina was until now. Your poem is so intricate, so interesting, that it boggles my mind how you made it. How you can use six words at the ends of sentences, yet make each sentence unique and beautiful.
I'm amazed.

Re: Is there anything you don't know?

[gehayi]

Thank you, Alliterator. I'm glad you liked it, and that you found it intricate and beautiful.

And I'm sorry about your teacher. He sounds like he was a remarkable man. ::hugs::

[darkbarde]

I'm not sure how close you came to Spike's voice, but sestinas are damn hard to write in my experience and I applaud you for it. Was it easier to accomplish with such long lines? Most sestinas I've seen have much shorter ones. Good stuff!

[gehayi]

Thank you! And no, it wasn't easier. Many of the lines were originally longer; I chopped most of the lines in half. I have to work on cutting the lines about 75% next time.

[st_salieri]

I just got a chance to read this -- very beautiful, and it's introduced me to a new form of poetry I didn't know about before. It looks like it must have been a challenge to write, but it was definitely a pleasure to read. Thank you.