Sestina - Rhymed

The Rhymed Sestina

The most important recognized sestina variant is the rhymed sestina, which was devised by Swinburne. Here keywords 1, 3 and 5 rhyme with each other, as do keywords 2, 4 and 6. The permutations are revised so that every stanza has the same rhyming scheme ababab. In terms of the keywords, the revised structure is:

stanza 1: 123456

stanza 2: 614325

stanza 3: 561432

stanza 4: 256143

stanza 5: 321654

stanza 6: 432561

tornada:  14/23/56

This is the structure that MUST be used if you write a rhymed sestina and

should NOT be used for an un-rhymed sestina.

Example Poem

Checking Your List       ( Rhymed Sestina )

I think today I'll itemize our woes

then tomorrow I'll pick out one to solve.

I can accomplish that much I suppose

if I approach the problem with resolve.

I'll Itemize the problems in neat rows

then find the means to make them all dissolve.

All things that are soluble will dissolve.

If I can disassemble all our woes

I should find components we can resolve.

An ordered list is needed, I suppose

For surely world-wide problems I can't solve.

I must therefore prioritize my rows

Put those deemed easiest in the top rows

A solution makes most all things dissolve.

A binding to insolubles makes woes

an aggregate resistant to resolve.

We must demote those woes I shall suppose

reserving strength for those we're apt to solve.

Fixating on what we expect to solve

al lows us to dispose of early rows

and thus our will to win will not dissolve.

Our work will soon disclose imposing woes

Solutions will evolve, building resolve.

Some I'll solve while in repose, I suppose

I suspect there's no reason to suppose

discouragement over those we can't solve

won't whittle our will, (and add to our woes).

Don't add that to the list.  It will dissolve.

Wiggle your toes when progress slows on rows;

Think of Poe's work or write prose with resolve.

Decide to ignore the list with resolve.

Some solutions one surely should suppose

will spring from things we're not trying to solve.

At last unchangeables fill all our rows

World-wide differences will not dissolve.

Omit God's will and nature from your woes .

I think the woes I know I can resolve

I'll quickly solve forever, I suppose.

Concern for rows remaining will dissolve.

  © Lawrencealot - January 12, 2013)

Related forms: Bina, Tritina, Quartina, Quintina, Sestina, Newman Sestina, Sidney's Double Sestina, Decrina, and Canzone.

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