Ruth Sabath Rosenthal Poet Sestina

Notes About The Poem

The Sestina follows a strict pattern: a specific repetition of the six end-words of the first stanza, as the end words of the five remaining six-line stanzas -- the six stanzas culminating in a three-line envoi. (See the formula below this explanation.) The lines may be of any length, though in its initial incarnation, the Sestina followed a syllabic restriction. In the contemporary Sestina,  the use of occasional slant rhyme/half-rhyme end words is acceptable. (Slant rhyme, also known as half-rhyme or imperfect rhyme, refers to words that almost rhyme or appear to the eye to do so.)  Regarding my Sestina "A Changing Heart," I took such liberties.

Here is the prescribed form for the "Sestina." (Each number represents the last word of each of the 6 lines of the 6 stanzas):

         1st stanza  1 2 3 4 5 6

         2nd stanza  6 1 5 2 4 3

         3rd stanza  3 6 4 1 2 5

         4th stanza  5 3 2 6 1 4

         5th stanza  4 5 1 3 6 2

         6th stanza  2 4 6 5 3 1

Envoi  (the last 3 lines -- the last 2 words):

          2-5        
          4-3     
          6-1       

(that is the most common one I saw on line)  (I also saw)

          6-2
          1-4
          5-3

         

        

A Changing Heart

Longing for heart-quiet
in the inevitable fall
into Winter’s short days of sun
forwarding to Spring’s
longer days — a circling back
in the sameness of time.

Heart-and-mind-numbing time
with no respite. A longing to quiet   
those thoughts playing back
battle after battle. The awful
repetition. Mind and life wasting.
And, in the darkest season,

the conviction that the sun 
will only half-rise in this lifetime
of mine. Feeling that sting 
as from a bee’s disquiet
of green slumber. Swelling to a fault,
every damned day. Slamming me back,

season upon season. Holding me back.
Chilling me with doubt that sun-
shine can overcome rainfall
and that, invariably, given time, 
better times will come and quietly 
advance into Spring. Fast forward, past Spring 

to Summer, and onto Fall springing
back to Winter, and round again. Flashbacks
ever more glaring under the sun, then, quite
out of the blue — a glance, a nod. Overrun 
with fluttering, my heart paces in time
with fledging love’s free-fall.

And, with the passing of another Fall,
Winter heralds in the sweetest of Springs:
daffodils and Easter bonnets — a lifetime
of celebration ahead, no looking back.
Past risk and reason, I bask in the sun
that is love’s shine. Rain or shine, quiet

in the peace of it all, Fall after Fall, back
to Winter, Spring, Summer. Quiet as a Spring sun 
bursting through clouds. Love, for all time, requited.

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Funom Makama March 26, 2015 at 12:05 PM This is awesome creativity.... Going straight to my favs...

Graphite Drug March 11, 2015 at 1:46 PM Beautiful re-write! Your notes on the form are excellent. Could not have done better. I recently wrote a sestina. I try not to use a suffix on my end words or slant rhyme them. I use 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 in my envoi. See "from Old Arcadia," (IV. ii [Agelastus]) or page 26 of "The Making of a Poem, A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms" by Mark Strand and Eavan Boland for an example.

Graphite Drug March 9, 2015 at 3:43 PM Not sure of poem's theme, possibly circularity of self with seasons. Sestinas usually have the same six words at ends of stanza lines in a formulated order. It is a difficult form, but fun to work with. You have chosen a challenging form and subject. Interesting read.

Kj Force March 8, 2015 at 10:33 PM My interpretation of your write was so many seasons/time wasted in Life awaiting comfort from love...beautifully written words..

Ka Kimmel March 8, 2015 at 1:27 PM Ruth, I could hear you, well done. If I may offer to you, A Special Treatment KA Kimmel

Marilyn S Jennings March 5, 2015 at 6:16 PM Ruth, a very thought provoking poem and from knowing myself, that we all go through seasons in our lives we need to hang on to the fact that, "this to will pass". Great poem!

Iris E. Sankey- Lewis March 5, 2015 at 12:21 PM I especially like "...then out the blue...time stops, my heart races, falling in love..." The cycle of life, of love and pleasant surprises; you have penned a masterpiece, thoughtfully.

Elisabeth Sheaffer March 5, 2015 at 11:38 AM This is life, so well expressed. The quietness at the end is superb. Thank you.

Earl Schumacker March 5, 2015 at 3:02 AM Hi Ruth, This is really very well crafted. You have great stylization, form, structure and interesting language usage. It has genuine merit. Keep up the good work. I gave it a 7 rating. Have a great day. Earl

Ibrahima Diaby March 4, 2015 at 1:07 PM one of the best poems i've ever read..thank you for this wonderful job

Larry Berdoo March 4, 2015 at 9:07 AM Ruth, your poem is of great thoughts and personal experiences. Thank you for sharing.

George D. Miller March 4, 2015 at 7:11 AM I'm sure her poem has the same feeling of all of us in the northeast and elsewhere where the weather is disconcerting and cold. I think she covered her feelings quite well.

Kate Mcnaughton March 4, 2015 at 12:24 AM I enjoyed this very much Ruth, it's still cold here in Scotland, this made me feel warm. ??

Viv Wigley March 3, 2015 at 11:29 PM A rueful, almost desolate start, that sudden joyous jolt and a warm, comforting, contented finish. Lovely verse. #7> Mister Viv x

Peter Lewis Holmes March 3, 2015 at 4:48 PM I enjoyed reading the picture you painted Ruth....the stilted structure, highlights your feelings and experiences....nice pen...Peter