A Sestina I wrote for school
So I choose to write a poem instead of an essay on poetry for my college class, and I chose a sestina. Which, basically, is a poem that has six ending words that repeat in a certain order in every sestet. Anyway, I really liked this poem and figured why not share it with you. So here it is.
UPON THIS HALLOWED BATTLEFIELD
Upon this hallowed battlefield, it ends
The chaos reigned upon these sands
And though the battle might have been for naught
And though we might not have obtained what we sought
In this desolate waste, we pray
That this shall not be our judgement day
It seemed not too long ago, on a joyful day
That began with cheer but with darkness did end
And through our despair, upon them we preyed
And spilled our blood upon the sands
And the enemy, we killed and shot
And for a moment it was beautiful, was it not?
And even when a battle was for naught
Still, we enjoyed the day
For even when our men were shot
And their lives were dutifully ended
We believed they were just a grain in time’s sands
And had brought the enemy down a number, we prayed.
But no matter our prayers
Or whether we won or not
Soon, upon these bitter sands
That shone with blood this very day
Our fantasy waded and ended
And we finally knew what it was we sought
What is it, that we had sought?
To be honest, everyday I pray
That one day, it will end
And, forevermore, I will not
Ever remember what we thought that day
But I fear I will not, even when I’m beneath the sand
Why is it we stained red the sands?
What is it that we had sought?
Did we seek to win the day
Or did we hope to prey
Upon those who could resist us not
Until, at last, our humanity ended
Upon this day, the crimson sands
Shall be the end of what we sought
And for this, I pray, it was not for naught