A Lack of
Spirit (Sestina)
It is
Thanksgiving, I had to go home.
Now it’s
time to leave, board my flight
They told me
the 6 am is always on time for Spirit
Now I’m
here, waiting
Missing
class and hoping to get on the plane
By the gate
where the surrounding strangers sleep and sit
One hour goes
by and I’m just sitting
Reminiscing
on the weekend, thinking about time at home
Staring out
at fog and an empty plane
Wondering
why I’m not on my flight
Patiently
waiting
This
customer is not satisfied, oh my airline Spirit
The holiday has passed, I'm definitely not in the Spirit
I see
why as I continue to just sit
Occasionally
wandering around the airport as I continue to wait
I cannot believe
I’m still in Michigan and not at home
I should
have changed my flight
I’m watching
them slowly fuel the plane
It’s been
two dragged out hours I have been waiting for my plane
It is too early for any spirits
Why my flight?
I rather be traveling while I sit
Looking down
at my home
But instead
I’m simply waiting
Three hours
of "patiently" waiting
Now I see
the “chef” truck next to the plane
This may be
my last hour at home
I guess I am
happy that I got more time here, thanks to Spirit
There is
nothing like people watching as you sit
It is now
the fourth hour of waiting for my flight
Then there’s
an announcement for my flight
Am I finally
done waiting?
Do I get to
move to a different place to sit?
I just want
to get on the plane
This is the last time I fly Spirit
Going back to Delta next time I go home
I have a lack of spirit from all of this waiting
It's time to now sit on the plane
It's time to now sit on the plane
It has been nice at home but it’s
time for my flight back to reality
Wow, you did a wonderful job of making your audience feel the frustration of waiting for a delayed flight! Your word choice as you describe the delay was really great. I think you successfully used the form of sestina to show how it seemed like a never ending wait. The repetition was to your advantage! The only thing I might fix is consider using "spirit" as it's actual meaning, and not the airline, which could add depth to the poem. Good job!
ReplyDeleteWow, you did a wonderful job of making your audience feel the frustration of waiting for a delayed flight! Your word choice as you describe the delay was really great. I think you successfully used the form of sestina to show how it seemed like a never ending wait. The repetition was to your advantage! The only thing I might fix is consider using "spirit" as it's actual meaning, and not the airline, which could add depth to the poem. Good job!
ReplyDeleteThis idea of a delayed flight is great for the form of poem because of the constant repetition and the cyclical feeling of the poem.
ReplyDeleteI think the poem can be improved by using fewer abstractions and by thinking of more active verbs to use. This might take a lot of revision (because this poem repeats its words). I am looking forward to the revised edition!
I think you rocked the sestina form. I like how the speaker's thoughts seem to be flowing in a constant circle due to the repeating end-words. I also really like how the meaning of Spirit changed in each stanza, from the actual airline to the speaker's current mood due to the delayed flight. I found the title- "A Lack of Spirit"- to be especially clever. I suggest changing the "ing" verbs throughout the poem to the present to establish more of a sense of immediacy. For example, "sitting" to sit. Great job on your first sestina!
ReplyDeleteThis was a very smartly written sestina! I really like how the repeated words really took on different meanings, all the while returning to the same setting and mood. The emotion was very nicely portrayed, so much that I too started feeling frustrated.. Only wish there was a bit more showing. Otherwise, great job!
ReplyDelete