Art:Sestina Madness

'''Sestina? Madness!''' was a familiar contest run in the Mariner's Muse section of the YPP forums during March 2005 as part of the ocean-wide March Madness events on the Midnight Ocean. To enter, players were required to craft a sestina on the topic of caring for a monkey. The first prize of an orange monkey was award to Seatiger for his submission "Golden Cage Sestina." Runners up received custom named and painted sloops.

= Seatigers's winning entry = Golden Cage Sestina

A monkey lives within a troupe, so take Him out around the town and gaily stand Among your friends. He?ll drink with maid and man Alike, but rum and whiskey risk a fall Into drunk rage or biting! Best to set A firm ban on his drinking-table play.

A monkey keeps no schedule. Raucous play All night will wreck your sleep and house, so take The time to build a sturdy cage and set Some food inside. It?s hard for chimps to stand A night alone, but soon he?ll start to fall Asleep, and snore as loud as a grown man.

The Pirate swarms are green with envy. Man Your ship with faithful mates! A fraud may play On trust, and ask to hold him. Never fall For cordial words; the cur will turn and take Your chimp for ransom! Firmly keep the stand: "He stays by me, on that my mind is set."

He loves bananas, fresh and ripe, so set Your course at dawn to seek the produce man. Papaya, kiwi, grapes, and nuts! The stand Has all of these, plus toys for him to play With. Fruits are rare in winter?s chill, so take This tip and dry a hoard to cache in Fall.

A monkey sure is filthy! Food will fall Below the cage and make a mess, so set Old sails beneath his pen, and weekly take Them out and clean them well. The stench? oh, man! An open door or two, when winds can play, Will dull the smell to levels friends can stand.

The toughest chore? To let him go! A stand Of jungle palms is great. His troupe will fall Around to hear him tell of days of play; Of kiwi, rum, and salty breeze. He'll set The record straight: "A kind and loving man," He'll hoot and screech; a praise you'll proudly take.

It?s hard to stand the lone walk when you set Your feet to fall for home. How rich the man That learned through play: it's best to give, not take.

= Runners-up =
 * Aelesaia - Sestina #23
 * Unknown - Sestina: As Ye Would Any Mate

= External Links =
 * Original rules and discussion thread
 * entries thread
 * Winners announcement