SESTINA
Quick Overview
39 lines
Six six line stanzas
One three line stanza
End words of each stanza are the same, just rearranged. Below is a link that once you have chosen the end words will put them in the correct order for you.
End words are UNRHYMED, unless you wish them to be rhymed.
No stipulation as to line length, but it must be consistent throughout each stanza.
Sestinas are great ti convey CONVERSATION due to the repetition.
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I have a choice, either pick six random words that will be the end words for all six of the six-line stanzas, or write the first stanza and use the end line words. I chose the latter. Line length may vary but sonnet crazed as I am I chose a ten syllable line for all my lines. The stanzas are UNRHYMED. I dig deep for a subject, don’t analyse at all. Getting whatever words down first, the woods got to be there first before I can do any carving. Done. Picked out my six ending words. Tricky bit
This was the tricky bit: I did it manually but below is a link to a SESTINA engine that does it for you:
Manually:
1 2 3 4 5 6 – End words of lines in first sestet.
6 1 5 2 4 3- End words of lines in second sestet.
3 6 4 1 2 5 – End words of lines in third sestet.
5 3 2 6 1 4 – End words of lines in fourth sestet.
2 4 5 1 3 6 2 – End words of lines in fifth sestet.
2 4 6 5 3 1 – End words of lines in sixth sestet.
(6 2) (1 4) (5 3) – Middle and end words of lines in tercet.
Now I swap the numbers for the relevant end words. Then I sort these into the sestets. First one is springboard.
SESTINA ENGINE LINK:
http://henrycrawfordpoetry.com/Tools/Sestina
Thankyou to Louise Longson for this link.
Other Helpful Websites
https://www.writersdigest.com/personal-updates/sestina-6×6339-thats-math
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/learn/glossary-terms/sestina
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/sestina-poem-form
https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Sestina
https://poetryarchive.org/glossary/sestina/
Examples
https://poemanalysis.com/elizabeth-bishop/sestina/
The Wombwell Rainbow 
Quite a challenge. I’m not sure I’ve ever written a sestina. I’ll see if I have time later in the week.
Reblogged this on Yesterday and today: Merril's historical musings and commented:
Paul Brookes is starting a form poetry challenge.
Great idea, Paul. I’m not sure I’ve written one either, but I’ll try this week.