How to Write a Sestina – A Sestina

Remember what ended at one
Before moving off to number two
keep that in mind as you write three
don’t forget as you write four
Almost there now write five
And you finish the start with six.

Starts the next one with the last of six
Then do the same with number one
After that now use number five
Follow that with the word from two
Then you’ll use good old four
Let’s end this part with the three

Stanza three begins with three
And shortly follows six
Don’t miss out, here put four
Now long comes number one
After one again comes two
Which leaves us left with five.

Halfway there starts with five
Trailing after comes the three
Dragging by the hand lil two
Place right here number six
Now up pops dear old one
Wrapping up is number four

Replacing five now is four
From behind watches five
Now in third is one
Fourth toddles baby three
Twice that is follower six
While a third is last man two.

Last stanza starts with number two
In sequence comes partner four
Strutting forth comes number six
Then jumping goes our friend five
Penultimately we find the three
And as we started we end with one

The tercet’s first sentence can have one and four
The next one should have two and five
Then ends it all with three and six.

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And it probably should all be writen in Iambic Pentameter, but that’s a bit too far for me to stretch right now. Call it a free verse sestina. Or not. It’s probablt madness to do so with suc a structured poem…