As an additional follow up to Session 6 (see all follow-up links here), here are two student examples from last semester’s discussion board on the sestina. Remember you only have to do two, but you can write the full 36 lines of the sestina if you are inspired.
Example 1:
Words: bat, crime, people, mind, building, man
In the night he sees the BAT
a hero to some always stopping CRIME
his job, his calling save the PEOPLE
his only weapon, his MIND
watching atop of BUILDING
in reality he’s just a MAN
trying to be more than just a MAN
behind the walls of the BUILDING
he tries to stop the worst CRiME
some nights he can’t save the PEOPLE
those nights his greatest weapon is his greatest weakness, his MIND
in the end he’s just a BAT
Example 2:
Words: Dad, restaurant, food, fire, hands, home
Here is my dad,
working in his restaurant.
He will cook the food,
the wok on intense fire,
the drops of hot oil drop on his hands.
Late always he comes home.
Makes me wonder does he misses home?
I wonder because he is my dad.
I once saw his rough hands,
they were formed in his restaurant.
One cause, is the high fire.
Another, the heavy and amount of cook food.
Customers will order for food.
He hardly cook at home.
Does he ever hate this stove fire?
I am not blaming my dad.
I know he work hard in his restaurant.
I just want some rest to be on his hands.
And not just his hands.
A break from cooking food.
A break from his restaurant.
A break to be home.
A break for my dad.
A break from burning fire.
The discussion board is here: Session 6: Writing the Sestina
