I decided to try my hand at a Sestina poem this week, which proved to be a lot more challenging than I initially envisioned. The challenge is to pick six words, and then end each line of the six stanzas of this poem with each of these words in different places at the end of certain lines. Then, just to make things even more confusing, the seventh stanza contains two of these words in each of the three lines to finish. Oh, and before I forget, I also wrote this with six words on each line, just to challenge myself even more.
Here's the first draft.
* * *
m a s q u e r a d i n g
Anarchist misfit, umbra Joker of night
lil’ Red, pale skin wrapped body
love, lost in the dark, adieu
sacred, is your short shallow breath
as you journey on Icarus wings
Who’ll save you at the fair?
Aristocrats, front row at the fair
imps of mischievousness hunt at night
cause a flutter of Firefly wings
illuminate truth’s light on your body
the wolf grunts, still, feral breath
secrets, snicker of lies, bid adieu.
Time, the Hare’s contrivance, bid adieu
illusion, maniacal fun of the fair
the Wolf craves your silky breath
yearns for unfettered stillness of night
bite of cane strips, brittle body
renewed so poetic on angel’s wings.
Love is fire, scorched Phoenix wings
cunt, dry as barren desert, adieu
dark wolven lair rests his body
menagerie stage tricks at the fair
Love is war, energetic at night
the Chupacabra he steals your breath.
Strongman’s applause, short is your breath
the grey Buzzard unfurls his wings
shakes off the fabric of night
with soft lily hand, bid adieu
to carousel rides at the fair
in thrall to the sadomasochistic body.
Pangs of guilt cleanse your body
cigarettes and cocaine choke your breath
top prize won at the fair
Wolf plucks, picks at your wings
your ragged wound and spread, adieu
You, now belong to the night.
Hare’s timepiece is attuned to night, La Catrina she guards your body,
Life, as you know it, adieu, as the carnival swallows your breath,
Winces and cries float on wings, the Wolf, is not ever fair.
