Elizabeth Bishop's Sestina
www.poemhunter.com/poem/sestina/
2
CHOOSE
YOUR 6 WORDS. When deciding on your 6 words, focus on versatility in
terms of parts of speech, meaning, and usage. For example, the word
"hand" can be a verb or a noun (as in the sentences "Hand me the towel"
and "We shook hands," respectively.) "Hand" can be used in idioms
(e.g. give me a hand, on the other hand). And finally, "hand" just has
a plethora of definitions (e.g. a poker player's cards, a worker).
3
REVIEW
& REVISE YOUR 6 WORDS. Are all of your words nouns? Are they all
verbs? Do they seem to point to one specific subject matter you're
planning to write about? If so, I'd suggest diversifying. Throw some
adjectives in there; open a magazine or book, put your finger on the
page, and write whatever word it lands on; or add a word that seems
completely unrelated to the others.
4
ORGANIZE.
Although it might seem tedious to organize ahead of time, it will
save you from the grief that comes when realizing you've finally
perfected your sestina, but you accidentally messed up the pattern in
the third stanza, making the patterns in stanzas 4, 5, 6, and 7, also
incorrect. So, on a piece of paper, make 3 columns. The first column
is for the number pattern, the second is for the end-words, and the
third is for your lines of poetry. If you are staring at a blank computer
screen, make a table with 3 columns and 7 rows. Go to your TABLE
panel or dropdown, click "Insert Table," and enter the number or
columns and rows. (READ STEP 5 before writing the end-words down.)
5
WRITE.
There are many ways to start a sestina, so experiment and find what is
right for you. As for me, I like starting the first stanza without a
particular order in mind for my 6 words. I just make sure one of the 6
words is at the end of each line. Only after writing that first stanza
do I fill in my end-word column.
6
USE
OTHER DEVICES. Don't let the end-words fool you; they are not
necessarily the most important part of the sestina. Don't be afraid to
repeat other words, too. This can actually draw some attention away
from the end-words, adding a different type of rhythm and also warding
off the dreaded monotony that can result from a sestina gone wrong.
Enjambment can also create this effect.
7
BE
FLEXIBLE. If you are accustomed to writing free verse, the sestina's
constraints may seem to take away from what you want to say or what
you're trying to do in your poem. However, I suggest that instead of
not quite writing the poem you wanted to write, allow yourself to write
a different poem than what you'd imagined when you began. There are
many surprises to be found when writing in forms.
1 card A grand stand for a pyramid of cards
ReplyDelete2 like stumbling and twitching like
3 life the little sliver of life.
4 stand Yet, it will still stand
5 crosses tall as she crosses
6 legs little cards like legs.
6 legs The tiny little legs
1 card tremble as she lifts up a card
5 crosses for another row. Which crosses
2 like over the blue backs, like
4 stand a king’s stand.
3 life The pyramid would last such a short life,
3 life but that doesn’t deter her away from creating its life.
6 legs With those little legs,
4 stand and with that king’s stand,
1 card a card
2 like can be more than itself. Like
5 crosses a pharaoh king bearing his crosses.
5 crosses The arms of a pharaoh that bears his crosses
3 life is where the girl’s life
2 like intertwines. As if she is like
6 legs the pharaoh; her legs
1 card wrapped together and imprisoned just as the face in the card.
4 stand Yet, she remains unphased. The king’s stand
4 stand is still high above all, the stand
5 crosses is still bowed to, still decorated with crosses;
1 card nothing changed. Just as the card,
3 life despite her wishes, there is no life.
6 legs in those tiny legs
2 like that hold the white pyramid like
2 like her own. It’s like
4 stand her imagination wants the stand
6 legs of the king so that her tiny legs
5 crosses are not so tiny. That the crosses
3 life in her hands can really give life
1 card to something as simple as a card.
1&2 card&like The cards in her hands are like
3&4 life&stand life where there is only one stand
5&6 crosses&legs for one king that bear his crosses and stand tall on his legs