Carl Rakosi, "Oh Sestina"
If I were
suddenly
confronted
by a sestina
would I hold
my ground
or make
for the hills?
snare it
in a paper bag
and release
it outdoors
or laugh
like hell
and notify
Immigration?
In
October 2002, the Writers House hosted a live audiocast program featuring
a conversation with and a reading by Carl Rakosi, then 99 years old. During this program Tom Devaney
and Al Filreis asked Rakosi to recite "Oh, Sestina." Rakosi introduced the poem
by explaining that it had come in part as a reaction against a sestina that
Charles Reznikoff had written.
Click here
[mp3] to hear Rakosi introduce the poem and read it.
Click here
for more about the 2002/99th birthday session with Rakosi, including links to
recordings of each poem he read.