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A Sestina

What a challenge! A Workshop Assignment to write a sestina about the winter holiday. A sestina has no rhyme, but it is written in iambic pentameter with patterned ending words and lines as follows:

(ENDING WORDS)--The entire pattern is: 123456; 615243; 364125; 532614; 451362; 246531; and 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 in an envoy.


A Story of Cherubs
A Christmas Poem

In soft slippers Christmas peeks one eye out
to come when all is still and calm with sleep.
First snow whispers, then bells chime in with song.
Carols emerge gently as folks come forth
to sing praise for this most holy evening.
Their hymns waft through the town like winged cherubs.

Each note sparkles with joy as should cherubs
on wings like doves soaring to beam peace out,
chanting sweet hymns far and near this evening
waking those sad, empty hearts from dark sleep.
Rising they come, lured by notes to come forth
and join the chorus in neighborly song.

Twirling ribbons of peace by way of song
neighbors join hands to chant hymns like cherubs
filling dark night with songs calling, Come forth!
Fill the air with warmth to let Christmas out.
Sing carols to wake your heart from its sleep.
From field and farm they come, blessed evening.

Together with Christmas love this evening,
they walk to church with voices joined in song,
beckoning all to raise their souls from sleep
to chant praise to Christ the Lord like cherubs.
Chapel doors swing wide to let Light shine out
welcoming all to see the Child smile forth.

From a straw-filled manger the Babe sends forth
profound love to fill the earth this evening.
His eyes so small for so much to shine out,
his heart full and bursting with God's dear song
of love and peace as told by His cherubs
whispering in ears of those who still sleep.

We are those children who are lost to sleep
who wake each Christmas when angels call forth
beckoning to love and peace like cherubs
to celebrate God's love for an evening
and join hands as one to chime in soft song
to let the love and peace from our hearts out.

Voices beam out to wake the world from sleep
bursting in song, a finale sent forth
from us, this one evening, we are cherubs.

Copyright 2006 JO Janoski










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