old known fixed verse form consisting lines normally followed line words end line stanza line endings following rotated set pattern invention form usually attributed 12th century spreading continental europe appeared english rarely written britain end 19th century remains popular poetic form continue written contemporary poets history oldest known written origin refers meaning daniel generally considered form inventor suggested existing form original known best known eras built end words best known ben early written form started italian 13th century 15th portuguese involvement establishing form contributions country account classification italian verse form despite originating result imported france italy 16th century poet attempt form french prior 19th century introduced partial rhyme scheme english appearance english print comprising lines august shepherd calendar published order end words stanza non standard ending etc stanza promoting previous final end word line leaving order intact order scheme set appeared print later written earlier credited english published end book double variant standard end word pattern repeated ending line resulting poem lines published subsequent editions second sorrow standard form like gods written uses exclusively feminine endings reflecting italian farewell sun light english follows standard end word scheme rhymes stanza rhyme scheme necessarily changes subsequent stanza consequence 6th stanza uses structure published called copy form absence notable years noting single volumes oxford cover seventeenth eighteenth nineteenth centuries 1870s revival interest french forms led earliest period stanza stanza begins repeating previous end words following lines repeat remaining end words volume poems ballads second series introduces double complaint lisa unlike comprises lines stanza similar stanza repeats end words previous stanza rest 1930s revival form took place english speaking world led poets 1950s described age distinguished modern examples remains popular closed verse form continue written contemporary poets notable examples include guest ellen supper street people form subject revisions development remain features define form composed lines followed stanza lines rhyme instead structured pattern words end line technique known repetition original form composed daniel line syllables stanza seven established form developed changes line length relatively common variant written form exists today require expertise inherited meter pattern line ending words follow explained numbers allowed stand end words stanza successive stanza takes pattern based pairing lines preceding stanza second second given pattern stanza produces second stanza way pattern line ending words stanza procedure known rendered backward crossing second stanza seen formed sets pairs appears original order reversed superimposed pattern line ending words represented numerically following table sixth stanza followed known french term term reference size relation preceding half stanza consists lines include line endings words preceding pattern numbers relative stanza end word pair occur line second end line end word order longer strictly enforced subject variations changes size number individual line length double given sets line line envoy total lines line line envoy total lines examples variation rare notable example variation complaint lisa notable example variation variation original pattern line ending words stanza seventh stanza entire change pattern occurs twice second variation pattern line ending words returns starting sequence eleventh stanza unlike single allow end word occupy stanza ends end words fail couple lines line envoy order line ending words follows pattern appear envoy effect structure demands adherence strict arbitrary order produces effects poem notes served historically complaint harsh demands acting signs structure enhance subject matter orders reference miracle breakfast suggests form harshly arbitrary demands echo subject form structure criticised considers dubious structural composed english form gives structural pleasure highlights number corresponding levels tension resolution resulting structural form including structural aesthetic tensions believes aesthetic tension results conception mathematical perfection set experiences resolved harmony strength according repetition recycling elusive patterns held mind patterns easily newcomers form says unfamiliar form rules tell end second stanza going
Sestina