#22

Sestina for the Frightened

When darkness falls and the owl speaks,
the floor boards squeak and I become nervous.
Every sound, sight, and shadow makes me jump.
On the couch, blanket pulled up high, I lie fallow
but I cannot protect myself from the thoughts planted
by my overly imaginative mind.

My cat wants my company and I don't mind.
For he speaks
to me in his planted
purrs and my nervousness
begins to fall fallow.
Then the house moans and I jump.

From the couch to my feet, I instantly jump
and thoughts of doubt invade my mind,
it is no longer fallow.
I laugh at myself and speak
to my pet, of my silly nervousness.
But because of my fright he has planted

his claws into the plant
that stands beside me. When I jumped
it made him just as nervous
but now he won't mind.
I calmly speak
to him and ask him to lay fallow.

As we lay fallow
my fingers, his claws planted
into the plush cushions. I speak
to my beloved and ask him not to jump
but to mind,
so that we might contain our nervousness.

I truly would like for my nerves
to be fallow
and for my mind
to be implanted
with realistic thoughts so that I do not jump.
So with great intention I speak:

That I will no longer be nervous; I will keep my body planted
firmly on this couch, while my mind lies fallow. I will no longer jump.

I made the revisions on my Sestina and here is what I came up with. I feel like I have somewhat accomplish the Sestina and am happy to say that I will not be writing any others. Thank you all for the suggestions. Oh, and about the 3 lines at the end... I could not seem to make it work out, so it made it my own and omitted the 3rd and used it with greater attention in the stanza above. However, if anyone has a suggestion on how to work it in so that is doesn't sound crazy I would be willing to look at this stupid thing one last time. Ha!