Good question, Tim:
USUALLY, a
S E S T I N A is written in iambic pentameter or other decasyllabic (10-syllable) meter, but I find no absolute requirement to do so.
And of course that probably means that you've just challenged me to TRY to do one in some other metrical pattern (which I did while I was recovering from my second knee replacement).
I believe, however, that it is preferred to be the same pattern throughout, but I don't think Dante paid much attention to that... or at least his translaters.
sharin' my sLight knowledge on the subject, Daniel 8)
Oooh’d to a Wheel Chair Now who’d expect to have a ball
in therapy? ‘tis but a step
to get myself up off this chair,
stand more and more, less hold a rail
plus move my body on the mat.
Brisk exercise gives me a lift.
At first, sure it was hard to lift
my foot an inch, or pick my ball
up… gently place it on the mat…
or even try to take a step;
something inside tried hard to rail
at me, or say “Stay in your chair!”
Eventually I left this chair
and more than once declined a lift,
but strode as if upon a rail
to therapy, and rode Big Ball
across the floor – my final step.
There’s naught can throw me to the mat.
Sure, there is pain upon that mat
and shrieks while stretching from this chair
— yes, sometimes fire in every step —
and they may even see me lift
my fist — defiant, kick the ball
at PT helper, loudly rail.
OT is not the Holy Grail;
the choice of food no Automat;
that dancin’ ‘round the floor, no ball;
my orchestration not first-chair;
but all the staff give me a lift
and guide me daily, step by step.
Some days, emotions out of step,
feel crowded to the outer rail,
but look, my right shoe has no lift;
I’m not lopsided on the mat!
Now soon I’ll leave this cursed chair.
What lies ahead? No crystal ball.
This chair but rolled me to the mat,
served as a lift to my first step;
it knew I’d rail; it’s had a ball.
© MLee Dickens'son 09 Dec 2003
revised 24 April 2005
Pages: 1
Sestina (Read 168 times)
