Sestina
The Sestina is believed to have been created in 1200, by a man named Arnaut Daniel. Daniel was the Provencal troubadour of the twelfth century--a person who sang their verses with the accompaniment of music. Troubadour's were often competitive and tried to outdo one another in wit, complexity, and difficulty of styles. Daniel used the Sestina for its complex format. While it was originally created in France, Dante and Petrarch brought the form over to Italy in the 13th century. Daniel used the form often to illustrate courtly love and was a trend that Dante and Petrarch also stated true to.
This is a poem used to illustrate love. Could also be considered as the 12th Century "rap battles." An Italian form consists of six sestets in iambic pentameter followed by a tercet (triplet) which consists of the envoi (the concluding remarks of the poem).
The Sestina is a form of sixes:
6 stanzas
6 lines per stanza
Each stanza has the same 6 end-words.
While the modern stanza does not typically rhyme or has a set rhythm, it is a very complex and structured form. Each stanza has 6 lines, all with the same 6 end-words. For the first stanza, the end-words would be considered ABCDEF. For the sestina to be completely accurate, the end-words have to be in a certain order--which is outlined below:
ABCDEF
FAEBDC
CFDABE
ECBFAD
DEACFB
BDFECA
After the 6 stanzas, the Sestina ends with a three line stanza called an envoi. These three lines end ACE or ECA.
THE SWEETEST POISON by Emporia State student Savannah McCreight, 2023
The end of my sleeve I wear my heart A
Sweet seduction like fresh gloss on lips B
You, I value above even the precious diamond C
This, no one can tear. D
This, never could be poisoned. E
So promised the lover. F
I thirsted for the promises of my lover F
I believed them with my entire heart A
This could not be my poison E
Until I felt the burn upon my lips B
First a stretch and then a tear D
Glistening on the cheek like diamond C
You will give me a diamond C
Is it too soon, lover? F
I won’t show you my tear. D
The failed potter of my heart A
You will never notice the deceit on my lips B
I will now be your poison. E
I will beat you at this game of poison E
Just give me your precious diamond C
I’ll draw you in, just with my lips. B
“be mine forever, lover” F
I’ll infiltrate your heart A
Until there’s nothing left to tear D
I await the moment to tear. D
Me, the deadliest poison E
You have ruined one that was pure of heart A
I wanted to shine forever as the diamond C
Polished everyday by my chosen, one, lover. F
To be the honey upon their lips. B
I curse you quietly with my lips B
Your muscle of life I wait to tear D
Until then I will pretend to be your lover F
Cupbearer of betrayal, brimming with my poison E
Together we are a black diamond C
Together, we make one whole black heart. A
Oh my lover, deadly seduction drooled from your lips
My innocent heart fell for your disguised poison
Nothing left to tear.