[stylist] Lynda's Tips for Successful Sestinas

[Jacqueline Williams]

Lynda,
Thanks for the clarification about line length and meter with the sestina. I
will try to relax about the form now.
Jackie

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Lynda Lambert
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2012 6:11 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] Lynda's Tips for Successful Sestinas

Hi Jackie,
I did not directly answer your question about meter.  In the early years of 
the Sestina, the meter was normally 7 for the first line of each stanza, and

then 10 syllables for the remaining five lines of each stanza.

Later, when Dante and Petrarch were practicing this form, the standard was 
11 syllables.

Today, there is no standard at all, and it is not required to write in a 
particular meter.

It is the FORM that is what is important in this poem, and that is created 
by the six  line endings in the exact sequence that remains intact from the 
original Sestinas of the 17th century.

There is also NO RHYME SCHEME in a sestina.

Hope this clarifies it. A good question.
Lynda

Lynda Lambert
104 River Road
Ellwood City, PA 16117

724 758 4979

My Blog:  http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
My Website:  http://lyndalambert.com






----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jacqueline Williams" <jackieleepoet at cox.net>
To: "'Writer's Division Mailing List'" <stylist at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 2:43 PM
Subject: Re: [stylist] Lynda's Tips for Successful Sestinas


> Lynda,
> I have studied your tips and find it novel in a few respects, that is not
> exactly fitting the definition. While I am aware that it does not have to 
> be
> iambic or pentameter, it does seem to insist on a particular meter and
> length in each line. In other words, one line may not have four meters of
> iambic, and the next three meters of trochaic.
> I would like your comments on this as well as the other's poet's
> understanding this quality of a sestina.
> To me the challenge is not only making the line ending come out 
> contributing
> to terrific content, but keeping a consistent pattern in the lines.
> The sestina I submitted to this group had one comment, and it made me know
> the message of the content did not at all come through. It somehow got
> translated as having to do with my son dying, and had nothing to do with 
> him
> at all. So I know I have much work to do.
> However I would like clarification on the rules first.
> Thanks, Jackie
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Lynda Lambert
> Sent: Tuesday, April 10, 2012 6:49 AM
> To: Writer's Division Mailing List
> Subject: [stylist] Lynda's Tips for Successful Sestinas
>
> I have attached a document with my tips for writing a good Sestina poem. 
> I
> think it is an exciting form of poem and have written and had published 
> many
> Sestinas.
> Hope this helps you in your own journey.
> Lynda
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Lynda Lambert
> 104 River Road
> Ellwood City, PA 16117
>
> 724 758 4979
>
> My Blog:  http://www.walkingbyinnervision.blogspot.com
> My Website:  http://lyndalambert.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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