Poetry Dances - Sestina Poem - Instructions and Example

A sestina is a poem built on repetition. The same six words appear again and again — always at the end of each line — but in a rotating order that changes with every stanza.

A sestina has six stanzas, each made of six lines. After that, there’s a short closing section called an envoi — a three-line stanza that includes all six words one last time, sometimes hidden within the lines.

In the example below, the repeated words are shown in bold for clarity. Normally, these words would not be highlighted in a finished poem.

Non-Traditional Example

Change of Heart

As friends we'd meet to laugh and sing
And I would play the lighter part
When in the woods we'd playful linger
Inside our special fairy ring.
No thought we gave to mind nor heart
When through my hair you'd run your finger.

But soft and slow you stole my heart (from line 5 stanza 1)
Around your soul I'd always linger. (from line 3 stanza 1)
You'd smile and deep inside I'd sing. (from line 1 stanza 1)
I could not live each time we'd part. (from line 2 stanza 1)
And so upon your third left finger (from line 6 stanza 1)
I placed your own engagement ring. (from line 4 stanza 1)

Soon under clothes our hands would linger
As lips hard pressed, fast beat my heart.
It scarce slowed at the wedding ring
Placed with its twin upon your finger.
We swore that only death would part
As 'God of love' the choir did sing.

And now you've stamped upon my heart
As leaving me you gave the finger
Leaving me with just suffer ring

1st stanza	1 2 3 4 5 6
2nd stanza	6 1 5 2 4 3
3rd stanza	3 6 4 1 2 5
4th stanza	5 3 2 6 1 4
5th stanza	4 5 1 3 6 2
6th stanza	2 4 6 5 3 1
Final Envoi	2–5 4–3 6–1