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Definition of the Sestina Form

Sestina No. 1

by

Stephanie Herman

You David, me Nigel, sitting on the kitchen floor
Reviving their lines like British promises
Through clenched teeth. You were the sister
Who ended my camaraderie with cats;
Of sealing my secrets inside lined envelopes,
Or blowing them free like dandelion seeds.

We kept house, leaving only to plant our seeds
In the brains of boys. We rarely scrubbed the floor:
Our arms in flight, pushing imagination's envelopes,
Our mouths full of last night's stories and rue-promises.
I hated your wisdom. You hated my cats.
Sitting in a Hardee's booth, you dubbed me your sister.

When Dublin drew you, my only known sister,
To serve suppers with salads and sunflower seeds,
Did you see me in the alley, where the skinny cats
Scavenged? I saw you when I sat on the floor
Alone. That autumn saw me make no promises,
Speak with no accent, purchase no envelopes.

When you returned, suitcases sealed like big envelopes,
Carting seasoned secrets to Chicago and your sister,
You remembered Dublin to me with nothing but promises
To return. Your photographs scattered like seeds,
You planted Ireland in your bedroom. My new apartment floor
An odd reception to your feet, not to mention the cats.

We knew it was him, sharing our couch with the cats
Your husband-to-be. And after reply envelopes
Were opened, garland on walls, glitter on floor,
I stood up, feeling faint. He took my only sister
Away. Across town, anyway. I bit strawberry seeds
And licked purple frosting on the day of those promises.

Now in Denver, I've drawn my own promises:
Finally found a man who doesn't mind cats,
Or my mouth full of stories, or sesame seeds
In my teeth. Our savings stuffed in envelopes
To someday visit my old friend, my midwestern sister.
I remember you more on days I scrub the floor.

Still I scatter you few promises inside lined envelopes,
Me, with my husband, two cats, a pen, but no sister,
Scattering, instead, the seeds I sweep from the floor.




Stephanie Herman is the editor of Rightgrrl  and author of the weekly column,The Holistic Republican,
at American Partisan.  She is also a contributing editor of Hatteras.