Oh... I've experimented a bit on this end to see what you can do... but can't find an answer. It took Substack awhile to come up with a "poetry" mode when I'm writing a post! But that capacity doesn't extend! I'm sorry!
I take it the breaks are around 6-line stanzas? Yesterday was a travel day, with no reading time. Now, about to enjoy this. Thank you for sharing your work!
After trying to work through possibilities of separating stanzas--and finding none--I sit to slowly read through several times and savour the work.
Other words--besides your six--that echo throughout here, are "somehow," "perhaps," "shall" etc.--subjunctive sense--and future tense of "will." Such a circling of hope in spite of the baldness of "despair" and "stress."
The poem comes to rest with that sense of hope; but it's not an easy thing.
This work of yours really is the strength of the form, captures where we're at now, collectively, where we can go, with a constant renewing of spirit.
So much stands out here: the lines "It is a wish we have to find our love/ To spend it with them..." I love this! How it works with "love" as a verb and noun/person... the pronoun turns it to an individual, and the need to spend time with ... lovely.
'Yes' to focusing on those dear in our lives as a way to grapple with the world... and in turn, that can nurture the capacity to care about the world. Here's to that!
Altogether lovely sounds throughout this work, Sheldon. So glad you shared.
I'm curious: did you select your 6 words before you began the work? Or as you went?
Thanks for the kind words, Alison, and rereading at times I think, What did I mean there? What does the "it" refer to in the line you like? But I will leave yesterday's inspiration as it is.
My sestina:
Now comes the end of all that we call time
When what we wish has gone with what we love
And there is nothing but a looming stress
And we cannot exist another day
Then in the dark of night we feel our age
And venture deeply into dark despair
And yet though we feel called on by despair
And think we can but while away our time
Still we may think there comes another age
In which we’ll sport and find a way to love
And then we’ll yearn for yet another day
To soothe us in the thing that we call stress
Oh, that we could escape the demon stress
And wash away the tentacles of despair
Oh that we could yet sing another day
And let us not expire though it be time
Oh at the end of all may there be love
And something yet of comfort in our age
Oh that we could surmount the toils of age
And find some path to lead us through our stress
And then perhaps we’ll find a greater love
That may allow us to pierce through despair
And that may be a rising of the time
It may be something for the final day
And if upon that bright sunshiny day
We somehow can forget our growing age
And give ourselves the greatest gift of time
An end to all that strives to give us stress
And then perhaps we’ll end our bleak despair
And find ourselves embraced by arms of love
It is a wish we have to find our love
To spend it with them for a greater day
To grasp the surly giant named despair
To realize the strength that comes with age
Oh then perhaps we’ll fight that demon stress
And come to happiness before our time
I think that I shall love another age
And in the day will triumph over stress
And then despair will go before my time
The spacing between stanzas has disappeared. Oh well
Oh... I've experimented a bit on this end to see what you can do... but can't find an answer. It took Substack awhile to come up with a "poetry" mode when I'm writing a post! But that capacity doesn't extend! I'm sorry!
I take it the breaks are around 6-line stanzas? Yesterday was a travel day, with no reading time. Now, about to enjoy this. Thank you for sharing your work!
Thanks, Alison. Yes, between the stanzas ...
After trying to work through possibilities of separating stanzas--and finding none--I sit to slowly read through several times and savour the work.
Other words--besides your six--that echo throughout here, are "somehow," "perhaps," "shall" etc.--subjunctive sense--and future tense of "will." Such a circling of hope in spite of the baldness of "despair" and "stress."
The poem comes to rest with that sense of hope; but it's not an easy thing.
This work of yours really is the strength of the form, captures where we're at now, collectively, where we can go, with a constant renewing of spirit.
So much stands out here: the lines "It is a wish we have to find our love/ To spend it with them..." I love this! How it works with "love" as a verb and noun/person... the pronoun turns it to an individual, and the need to spend time with ... lovely.
'Yes' to focusing on those dear in our lives as a way to grapple with the world... and in turn, that can nurture the capacity to care about the world. Here's to that!
Altogether lovely sounds throughout this work, Sheldon. So glad you shared.
I'm curious: did you select your 6 words before you began the work? Or as you went?
Picked the six words first: just the first six that came to me, then I followed the formula for where they should go
Thanks for the kind words, Alison, and rereading at times I think, What did I mean there? What does the "it" refer to in the line you like? But I will leave yesterday's inspiration as it is.
Reposting the sestina
Now comes the end of all that we call time
When what we wish has gone with what we love
And there is nothing but a looming stress
And we cannot exist another day
Then in the dark of night we feel our age
And venture deeply into dark despair
*****
*****
And yet though we feel called on by despair
And think we can but while away our time
Still we may think there comes another age
In which we’ll sport and find a way to love
And then we’ll yearn for yet another day
To soothe us in the thing that we call stress
*****
*****
Oh, that we could escape the demon stress
And wash away the tentacles of despair
Oh that we could yet sing another day
And let us not expire though it be time
Oh at the end of all may there be love
And something yet of comfort in our age
*****
*****
Oh that we could surmount the toils of age
And find some path to lead us through our stress
And then perhaps we’ll find a greater love
That may allow us to pierce through despair
And that may be a rising of the time
It may be something for the final day
*****
*****
And if upon that bright sunshiny day
We somehow can forget our growing age
And give ourselves the greatest gift of time
An end to all that strives to give us stress
And then perhaps we’ll end our bleak despair
And find ourselves embraced by arms of love
*****
*****
It is a wish we have to find our love
To spend it with them for a greater day
To grasp the surly giant named despair
To realize the strength that comes with age
Oh then perhaps we’ll fight that demon stress
And come to happiness before our time
*****
*****
I think that I shall love another age
And in the day will triumph over stress
And then despair will go before my time
What a wonderful post. I've never written one but now, maybe I might try. Thanks
You're welcome! It can be so inspiring to find a new form--and this is a fave.
Do share, if you want :)
Eek I might. And I’ll also share your post with my own subscribers to encourage them to have a go, if that’s ok x
Thank you for sharing, Nelly!