Paper Bird Sestina

[garran]

caduceuskun challenged me to write a sestina and post it in my journal, so, since I have, indeed, written a sestina since then, I suppose I ought to follow through. Cola provided me with the keywords; he insists that 'paper bird' should count.

I've been fascinated by the sestina form ever since I first learned about it; this is the first one I've ever finished, but I expect others to follow, which is good because I'm kind of underwhelmed by it. It has rather more plot than it has poetry.

----

It's hard to think about the paper bird
that touched with newfound wings of flame the sign
that said, "Mixed media: collage and drawing,
2004." (They would not even favor
it with the title. That's an older anger.)
All black and wreathed in smoke, it turned and flew

away -- or maybe it was I that flew
all heedless into now, no paper bird
still left to proudly clarify my anger.
Perhaps those ashes constitute a sign,
some God of Muses taking back his favor:
"If you won't care what happens to your drawing,

then nor will I." And so there's no more drawing.
I cared, but not enough; the whole thing flew
too quick for me to call on any favors,
as if I'd any saved. The paper bird
could languish there untitled with its sign,
without my name, and sure, there was the anger,

but really it was just a token anger,
because it was expected. Like a drawing
of what I ought to feel. There was no sign
that really caring if it fell or flew
would make a difference to the paper bird.
It's not like I'd be doing it a favor

if I should try to do it any favors.
A protest would provoke their petty anger
to spill past me and stain the paper bird
still further. So. I had my other drawings.
I need not dwell so much on those that flew
from me, or papers I should not have signed.

I turned away, ignoring every sign,
until the flames were like the lady's favor
that some cruel knight that jousted with me flew
to mock my losses. Now I found the anger,
too late to give in service to my drawing.
It's hard to think about the paper bird.

That paper bird beneath its useless sign --
that drawing, mine, that waited cold for favor
'til burning anger raised it, and it flew.

Comments

[chiave-trust.livejournal.com]

I tried my hand at a sestina over a year ago; but there is a difference between trying the form, and doing it well.

[garran.livejournal.com]

Yes, well. This is, traditionally, the only way to get better.


-Garran

[chiave-trust.livejournal.com]

Have you ever tried a ghazal?

[garran.livejournal.com]

I haven't. I once tried -- and failed -- to write a villanelle, but aside from that, this is my only foray into poetry closer constrained than the sonnet or haiku.


-Garran

[caduceuskun.livejournal.com]

I've written a villanelle. It's not very good. I have a sestina that is much better.

Villanelles are harder than sestinas, in my opinion. Also, the thing with sestinas is that they are almost invariably a more narrative sort of poem; I've never read one that wasn't a narrative. The poetry comes from the requirements of the form, so even though they're narrative, they're quite poetic and often beautiful.

I thought yours was rather lovely. Good job.

[garran.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Also, the thing with sestinas is that they are almost invariably a more narrative sort of poem; I've never read one that wasn't a narrative.

Have you read this one?


-Garran

[masamage.livejournal.com]

I like this a lot. Advice for those who, like me, can't quite get it the first time: don't read the lines, read the sentences. And take stuff literally. ^_^

It's really good for a first try. I would like to give it a shot.

Give me keywords?