A Sestina About Itself

This is a "sestina". In mine, each stanza is a different point of view.

I. 

I know, it's just a bit cliche, but think

of something else to do that isn't too

"risque" or done. It says that it's a poem

about itself before it starts, so take

it as it is or leave it be. I write

with common words, but paint an off-beat scene.

II.

I'm not too much for poems, I mean, I've seen

a few before, so, yeah, I guess I think

it's good. I'll tell ya what, I coudln't write

like that. If I were you I'd send it to

a magazine or something. Why not take

a shot? C'mon. You know I like your poems.

III.

I feel you've missed the point. With poems,

it's how, not what, you say to set the scene.

A scent. A trope. A metaphor. Partake

of ripened words! Embellish what you think

with tailored rhymes, designer lines, into

costumes of prestige! Why mimic speech to write?

IV.

We cannot use your piece, it's not quite right

for what we need, I mean, who still reads poems

that you know of? Moreover, buys them too?

It couldn't fetch a dime, and boy, I've seen,

oh, quite a few. And usually, I think

"Hey, this might do," but <i>this</i>, I couldn't take.

V.

Comma splices, fragments, too many too's to take.

Contractions too. Where'd you learn to write?

A concept goes so far, why must you think

that cleverness and wit are traits that poems

must always have? Sometimes, familiar scenes,

familiar ways, can serve a purpose too.

VI.

We do have rules and regulations as to

what we allow (we're snobs you know). We take

so much of each, so much already seen.

Like Shakespeare's plays, why imitate? Why write

when it's been done? Though mimicry may help a poem,

it's not as easy as you'd hope to think.

VII.

"A Poem About Itself" just isn't right,

I'd say. So take another look into

its lines. I think you'll see another scene.