WRITE BY NUMB3RS

Poetic Asides – Poem-A-Day Challenge – Day 28 Prompt:

Today's prompt is to write a sestina.
So, what is a sestina? For those who have a few minutes to spare, please go to the following link: http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/Sestina6x6339+Thats+Math.aspx. Once there, you can read up about what a sestina is and can be.

For those in a hurry, here's the basics on the sestina:

* It's a poem consisting of 7 stanzas.
* The first 6 stanzas have 6 lines; the final stanza has 3 lines.
* There are only 6 end words to each line throughout the 39 line poem.
* They rotate in the following pattern:

1-End Word 1
2-End Word 2
3-End Word 3
4-End Word 4
5-End Word 5
6-End Word 6

7-End Word 6
8-End Word 1
9-End Word 5
10-End Word 2
11-End Word 4
12-End Word 3

13-End Word 3
14-End Word 6
15-End Word 4
16-End Word 1
17-End Word 2
18-End Word 5

19-End Word 5
20-End Word 3
21-End Word 2
22-End Word 6
23-End Word 1
24-End Word 4

25-End Word 4
26-End Word 5
27-End Word 1
28-End Word 3
29-End Word 6
30-End Word 2

31-End Word 2
32-End Word 4
33-End Word 6
34-End Word 5
35-End Word 3
36-End Word 1

37-End Words 1 and 2
38-End Words 3 and 4
39-End Words 5 and 6
Usually, the best strategy is to pick out 6 words you think you can have fun with and that are probably somewhat flexible in how you can use them (this includes modifying a word here and there--like changing "cold" to "clod" to fit your purposes). Maybe throw in a word that is a little
unique--if you really want to challenge yourself. And remember to have fun.

Today it's cup of soup for one
eaten late, when the watch says two
I wish I had a friend or three
that could sit and visit until four
alas they all work nine to five
my friends, I have at least six

I have a meeting here at six
it's open wide to every one
who is interested in jumping into five
to ten minute writing exercises, two
by two we can write and read and four
letter words aren't censored, neither three

unless under-aged writers attend, three
chairs to a table in this café, and at six
we start...as people arrive three or four
at a time looking forward to this one
night where they can take an hour or two
and write, and share, and enjoy after five

because their hours before five
are scheduled and spoken for, and three
short breaks are not enough to
give your brain a break and eighty-six
the stress a dreaded j.o.b. can put on one
a fun gathering, though is worth waiting for

and now that the hour is nearing four
I am preparing for the group of five
or more, who will gather here for one
purpose, to write, share and read - that's three
purposes, wrapped in one, starting at six
and we will spend a beautiful two

hours together, laughing, sharing, renewing, too
we'll drink coffee or tea, and gather pens for
timed writing exercises in our journals six
to eight, we'll take ten minute blocks (two times five)
and spill ourselves out on a blank page or three
when the buzzer chimes we'll read aloud to every one

and we will listen, one and all, and smile too
as a page or three of words gives hope to write for
ten, or even five, repeating ‘til we return Monday at six

TLS, April 2008