why are there living dead
with frozen heart and head
life gouged and wounded deep
numbed into a hazy sleep
health issues fill with fear
or digital digest costs dear
hold help and hope dear
or waste this life feeling dead
review expectations and fear
best to check heart and head
to awaken from this deep sleep
raw frozen numbing cuts deep
now alive so breath deep
all are worthy and truly dear
awaken now forget sleep
soon enough we’ll be dead
be a risk taker to get ahead
thaw from any frozen fear
don’t be governed by fear
don’t let it to cut so deep
don’t be ruled by my head
don’t fear, know I’m dear
live for we are a long time dead
love and laugh, no time to sleep
avoid the vortex of deep sleep
be cheery don’t freeze with fear
live now I’m not yet dead
let joy and creativity run deep
cherish these qualities so dear
know that in my heart and head
open my heart to get ahead
let light seep into my sleep
for I am precious and dear
a wasted life I should fear
let love and joy run deep
live now for I’m not dead
don’t lose my head to fear
awaken from deep sleep
know I am dear not dead!
dVerse, Sestina, Victoria
The sestina contains six stanzas, each with six lines and concludes with a three line envoi.
aroused 
that’s awesome Kate! Very deep! ❤ I love it though! Well done!
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Very clever Kate, I don’t think I do one of these…… And you poem is uniquely intriguing …..
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Living each day without fear would be nice.
We actually had a black bear wondering in town this week.
Thankfully it was caught, tagged and released in a safer place.
Still a mystery as to how it ended up in the city though.
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I think as we build out their habitats they have little choice but to wander around our dwellings … glad it was a good result for all!
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I am asleep not dead! Great poetry
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your beautifully written words soaked deep into my soul………
“don’t be governed by fear
don’t let it to cut so deep
don’t be ruled by my head
don’t fear, know I’m dear” and these line especially. fear has a way of seeping into your mind and taking a hold. Bless you for encouraging us to do better.
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Wendi when I see people hurting I have to write it out … we are our own worst enemies! Bless you for hearing me 🙂
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thank you for speaking to me and so many others. 🙂
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There is much of value you present in this sestina Kate. It is strong and hopeful, and well executed given the challenge the form represents. You pull it together effectively in the envoi. Well written.
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Very well done! Fear should not rule our lives. Life is a gift and one that we should cherish.
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Beautiful words, Contains as many sentences and tips as to what you should do to live well and not be intimidated.
greetings
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It is easy to allow fear into our heads..but we need to make sure we don’t allow fear to rule our lives. 🙂 Hugs
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honestly Elizabeth with what I read you can handle anything … you are a real treasure and such a blessing to many!
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Let the light in. I specially like this part:
let joy and creativity run deep
cherish these qualities so dear
know that in my heart and head
Thank s for joining our sestina poetry form challenge.
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Wonderful sestina! Filled with wisdom!
I have to work hard lately to keep the fear from taking hold.
(((HUGS)))
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please don’t let it win dear friend … please email if you want to chat? Love and hugs to you both ❤
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True words of not being and acting like Zombies nor wasted skeletons but taking life in our hands and being happy and joyous as who knows when life will take us beyond. Lovely and beautiful poem, Kate.
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beautifully written Kate, fear, sleep and the fear of sleep all crisscrossing each other
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and we then we miss out on so much …
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I’m not a fan of the sestina since I know how difficult they are to write! You did it so well making it look easy. Lovely.
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wow I can usually take compliments but maybe this a little too much … it wasn’t easy I assure you!
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Yes, don’t be governed by fear, the state of the world is that it is indeed governed by fear.
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that’s what our dictators wish for, keeps us passive … we really need to be more awake and aware!
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Yes, and now the advent of AI, facial recognition and cash limits, gasp.
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yes they can’t pass necessary laws but seem to have no difficulty bringing down massive restrictions at will??
Pray the RCs disown Pell and defend all those they’ve harmed … feel everyone is closely watching their reaction to this! They are pariahs
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I’m thinking he’ll go to the high court and if that fails, which is most likely, then they’ll disown him.
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it shows zero respect for all those vulnerable children he and the others raped … shame on them!
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Yes, all this protecting my image – so ridiculous given that his cover was blown a long time ago. I still hear people defending him.
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they just can’t believe he would abuse his power … they are the worst kind but it does explain why he covered for all those other pedos!
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Yes, a network of deception, horrible.
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that’s how they could get away with it for decades and still the institution protects their own, not the children they damaged for life!
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Still going I suspect.
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Agreed!
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Sorry I missed commenting on my first read-through, Kate. Interrupted, no doubt. Fear is a great, and crippling enemy that stifles our ability to become our true selves. The title is quite apt.
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thanks Victoria
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