ACTIVITY: Write a Tritina

A tritina is a derivative form of a sestina. The tritina is a ten-line form that consists of three tercets and a concluding line. Like in a sestina, the last word of each line repeats, but in a different order. The final line includes all three of the words. For example:

1
2
3

3
1
2

2
3
1

123 or 321 or any combination thereof.

The numbers represent the words that should be repeated at the end of each line. The final line should include all three words in any order. Our variations may be slightly different, but this is the basic idea.

We tried to write tritinas using a uniform list of words: beat, sage and echo. What can you come up with? If you really want to challenge yourself, try a sestina!

This is a repost of a previous activity. Go here or here and read some other examples...

Waiting to Exhale...

Waiting to Exhale...

Lips parted, with the help of a cigarette,                she inhales.   
Unaware, he falls asleep, today was a                       good day.
He dreams, she exhales, everyone is                              happy.


   
Apart from them. She lies, he cheats, they are not truly happy.
In another world with her not on his mind,
                                a different woman's sent            he inhales.
                 
She knows and so does he.
Will he ever tell her? Will she ever tell him?
                  they hope today will be                               the day.       




Breath in, breath out. Do not be afraid of                      the day.
She wants to be free, so does he.
She wants to do as she please and so does he.
So  why cant they just                                                 be happy.
The door unlocks, he walks in, she stands up
                   together                                                 they inhale.


                                              This day, they inhale, they are happy.

ACTIVITY: Write a Tritina

A tritina is a derivative form of a sestina. The tritina is a ten-line form that consists of three tercets and a concluding line. Like in a sestina, the last word of each line repeats, but in a different order. The final line includes all three of the words. For example:

1
2
3

3
1
2

2
3
1

123 or 321 or any combination thereof.

The numbers represent the words that should be repeated at the end of each line. The final line should include all three words in any order. Our variations may be slightly different, but this is the basic idea.

We tried to write two tritinas: the first was left to each individual author but the second shared a uniform list of words: success, bubbles and grass. What can you come up with? If you really want to challenge yourself, try a sestina!

A Desert Love

Surrounded by wind, dust,
All alone in a car driving across the desert.
I think of my love,

Where she walks and wanders. My love
Made of sand and a cloud of us. Dust
That makes a terrible desert

Out of air. Out of the desert
We reached what we thought was love.
What we thought was dust

Returned to dust, a desert love.

Evil

You dream terribly. What success
Measures your sacrifice? Bubbles
Of blood stain grass

Where a corpse lies. Grass
Over graves of your success,
Your victim still suspires & bubbles

Appear on parted lips. What bubbles
Beneath the surface? Grass
Eventually dies in this cold tussle with success.

No success at all; bubbles of deliverance, dead grass.

ACTIVITY: Write a Tritina

A tritina is a derivative form of a sestina. The tritina is a ten-line form that consists of three tercets and a concluding line. Like in a sestina, the last word of each line repeats, but in a different order. The final line includes all three of the words. For example:

1
2
3

3
1
2

2
3
1

123 or
321

The numbers represent the words that should be repeated at the end of each line. The final line should include all three words in one of the two suggested orders. Our variations may be slightly different, but this is the basic idea.

Time Goes Fast

Time goes fast
I couldn't finish
It was staring

Why is it staring
am I fast
I couldn't even finish

I will finish
It will stop staring
when I am fast

Finish, Staring, Fast.

The aliens look down on us from outer space,

The aliens look down on us from outer space,
But they don't understand the plan.
They can't see a pattern

Or something obscures the pattern.
Perhaps, there are too many clouds or there is too much space
Between them and us. The plan

They think, is not a plan,
But a distraction. Shadows or something. A pattern
Of black and white words and space

And nonsense. A pattern in the grand plan of empty space.