Last year, I wrote a sestina for the first time for my dayjob’s Christmas party. I meant to post it, but never got around to it, so doing it this year. Enjoy!
A sestina is a six-stanza poem, each stanza composed of six lines, which end with six words that repeated throughout the poem in a fixed sequence, ending in a 3-line triplet that contains all six words.
Sestina for a Star
By the time you set forth your light
the earth was still being formed in joy.
Sin had yet to erase our hope.
Your light spanned eons, centuries across
history, until it finally reached our world
where it sat silent, waiting, in the dark.
Since Eden, man had fumbled in the dark
robbed of their peace and joy.
In money and power, many put their hope
while others simply forgot the light.
Because of this, you went across
cultures to make yourself known in the world.
The first ones to see you in this world
would be considered foreigners, seen as Other, across
Jerusalem. Seeing you gave them joy
for they were familiar with your light.
So, skin tones ranging from pale to dark,
they set forth tracking the sign of their hope.
Your news would be received well, they hoped.
Herod heard and his mind grew dark.
Months later, he’ll kill to get his point across
that he was the only rightful ruler to the world.
So he asked the magi if they would enlighten
him of this child, who was to bring much joy.
He didn’t understand; this child wouldn’t enjoy
the material riches found in this world.
He had come for those who had lost hope,
for those fumbling for answers in the dark,
to pay off sins, to make burdens light:
the son of man, born to die on a cross.
God has placed you to shine across
the fields to shepherds filling them with hope,
to the magi filling them with awe and joy
as they reached a village quiet and dark,
to kneel before God’s son, given to the world
to banish fear and bring us back into the light.
Christmas Star, bring your light into this sad and broken world.
May it illuminate across the land, into our hearts hidden and dark,
comforting those who needs its hope, and lifting them up into joy.
Copyright © 2015 LaShawn M. Wanak
Do not copy without permission
Filed under: Poetry | Tagged: Poetry | Leave a comment »
The Cafe in the Woods 