When the sky was first falling I sat in awe of the words;
a Moses parted sea, an Alice turned rabbit pocket-watch
and a young boy understood he really could learn to fly -
truly would send an audience, anywhere - any time;
transcend worldly influences, boundaries and limits
encircle the silence of closed eyes that journey in peace.
I could not have known then the importance of peace
or harmony defined between emotion and words.
Maturity’s inevitable downfall is the installation of limits
that whittle away at life’s opportunities to watch
images in romance, Illusion that dance - perfectly timed;
I could not have known I would forget how to fly.
The human heart flickers as fragile as a firefly
caught within the vacant eyes of modern man’s peace.
Arrows pierce armor in one sided love so many times
the pen fears to amend the distance between words.
I had yet to learn: The muse takes notes as it watches,
unaffected and commissioned at birth - without limits.
There are written and unwritten diaries stretching limits,
wide open ethereal places meant only for one to fly
and as the muse replays memories from great heights - watch,
admit, learn, understand how to weave the road to peace.
Years have revealed maturity and maturity awoken words;
where old stories release new meanings buried in time,
to await updating; to be redisplayed across modern times.
I am only one of their many scribes and I will not accept limits
as I grant them color, bold images, new phrases built on words;
release them to soar on high where birds fly
to rain down upon our souls their offerings of peace.
Some will pick up where the journey left off; others merely watch
unable to spare a precious moment from their ever ticking watch;
afraid to interrupt that worldly pace, to take a step out of time,
they will achieve everything in their sacrifice of peace.
And I, I will continue to find devices to push the limits
and never doubt the moment I teach others to fly
high behind closed eyes, upon this meandering path of words.
I will always be watching, developing ideas to stretch limits
altering precious time for those who wish to fly,
those who seek peace and the scribes of well crafted words.
Author notes
Idle mind wondering
I threw a dart at a list of forms but hit one I had done; I threw another and another until I hit the mark:
Sestina
The sestina is a strict ordered form of poetry, dating back to twelfth century French troubadours. It
consists of six six-line (sestets) stanzas followed by a three-line envoy. Rather than use a rhyme
scheme, the six ending words of the first stanza are repeated as the ending words of the other five
stanzas in a set pattern. The envoy uses two of the ending words per line, again in a set pattern.
First stanza, ..1 ..2 ..3 ..4 ..5 ..6
Second stanza, ..6 ..1 ..5 .. 2 ..4 ..3
Third stanza, ..3 ..6 ..4 ..1 ..2 ..5
Fourth stanza, ..5 ..3 ..2 ..6 ..1 ..4
Fifth stanza, ..4 ..5 ..1 ..3 ..6 ..2
Sixth stanza, ..2 ..4 ..6 ..5 ..3 ..1
Concluding tercet:
middle of first line ..2, end of first line ..5
middle of second line ..4, end of second line..3
middle if third line ..6, end of third line ..1
"silence", "ethereal" & "harmony"
In a list
Comments
1 - 22 of 22
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You know when its a good Sestina when one doesn't notice the form inside of reading it, it reads flawless and seamless, both good things - your time and commitment paid off, I'd say...lol
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Ken, I am in awe of this magnificent sestina. This form is very difficult to construct with its repetition, but you made the words flow with grace and beauty. I was never conscious that I was reading a form poem. I think one of the strengths was your use of enjambment to keep the reader moving forward, not caught on the repeating words. Beyond the form, though, the message was profound and the idea of flying as a metaphor for achievement and hope was well developed. I can't praise this enough and will bookmark it as the best example of a sestina I have ever read. Peace and hugs, Liz
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Thank you Liz, I did not know the term "enjambment" though I make use of it often.
I like how continuous thoughts push my reader and how open beginnings and ending leave room for interpretation and imagination to wonder. This was my first Sastina but I feel this technique invaluable to the form as you mentioned - "to keep the reader moving forward, not caught on the repeating words."
More and more as time goes by I love the craft of writing and am please you have found meaning and worth in these words
Ken
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excellent piece, good selection of form that proves a challenge to write, I shall have to give it a go sometime. lovely description of the craft we strive to master.
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I can completely relate <333
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This is truely amazing!
<3 Juliana Mari -
maturity's inevitable downfall is th installation of limite that whittle away at life's opportunities...etc. the whole poem is an awesome and overwhelming display of the depth words can convey...
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then I have achieved my gold
thank you
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This is an amazing Sestina! Having tried a couple of them, I know how difficult it can be to not ignore content for form, or to lose the theme in the struggle for correct wordage. You have accomplished something wonderful! I'm glad that I got the opportunity to read it. Best to you in the contest!
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thank you,
This began so strongly that even when I was pulling my hair out wanting to quit - I couldn't
I can understand way so many Sestinas go unfinished.
thanks again for commenting
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Technically this looks amazing, but you did not sacrifice poetry for form. I can not imagine how long it took to compose this, but I am happy it was featured on the front page so that I would read it.
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I worked on this obsessively for over a week; lol, but from the first line I was committed.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
ken
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An exceptional Sestina that breathes life into fairy tales and love into every writer who finds words to be the magic fairy dust of life.
Bravo my dear. Truly an impressive work of art. ~Pamela
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thank you sweet lady
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You truly did a marvelous job!!! I LOVE IT!!!
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Great flow, and flawless wording. Love the beginning, with Alice, and Moses, and (I think) Peter Pan. I like all those stories. Amazing sestina. Love it.
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I cannot remember what story - the sky is falling - is from; but I remember bits and pieces and the feelings they evoked. I am glad you liked
ken
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Really nice poem here and awesome background.
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really don't much about form
but beauty I can spot miles away
this is beauty unblemished
idle mind
no wonder
much beauty flows from an idle mind
to rain down upon our souls their offerings of peace.
unity, harmony the meaning of life
breathtaking and no doubt belongs in the spotlight
God bless you my friend...
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Thank you I am glad you liked
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Excellent excellent excellent and bravo!
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thank you most kindly
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