Phoenix Sixain only

Contest Judged: 7/15/2026 12:58:00 AM
Sponsored by: Suzette Richards |

Place	PoemTitle	Poet
1	Magdalena Droplets	Ghairo Daniels
2	The sun needs a savior	Ink Empress
3	A Sweet Hummingbird	Tania Kitchin
4	Oblivion Serene	Andrea Dietrich
5	Zeal's Divine Radiance	Beata Agustin

Contest Description

There does not seem to be an interest in deviating from the beaten track with the earlier contest prompt for the Code Whisperer and Suzcrostic. Another form which is discussed in the accompanying article* is the Phoenix Sixain—it was last featured in a contest during September 2025. Please write a fresh one for this contest. Thank you.

As the 4 contest entries received to date are incorrect insofar as the contest requirements were concerned, I have taken the unusual step to change the contest brief midway during the run of the contest.

What to submit?

PHOENIX SIXAIN (invented 2024)

Select five consecutive lines—verbatim from a designated poem. Preferably your own work.
Construct Line 6 by choosing one word from each of those five lines, in sequence.
You may optionally include up to two structure words (eg, articles, prepositions, conjunctions) to aid grammatical clarity or poetic flow. You may, also, change the tenses, etc of the chosen words to facilitate the composition of the 6^th line.
When function words are used, Line 6 may extend to a maximum of seven words (5 words from each line, plus the 2 maximum additions).
Rhyme and metre are optional, and syllable count per line is unrestricted, but keep it reasonable, ie max 12 syllables per line.
Capitalisation and punctuation may be adjusted to suit your final composition.
With fresh eyes, you might decide to give the new poem its own maximum 5-word title.
At the bottom of your poem (directly below), add the line: ‘Inspired by” or any other identifing heading, (followed by the title of the original poem, and the date it was first published). It is not seen as plagiarism as it is transformative and duly accredited.