How to Write a Mirror Cinquain

The second adaptation we are looking at is the mirror Cinquain. This is made up of 2 Cinquains, a traditional Cinquain and a reverse Cinquain. These are usually written as 2 5-lined stanzas. You can use the same Cinquain and mirror it, or write two separate Cinquains. The former is the easier option and as this is the advanced Cinquain workshop we suggest you challenge yourself by writing two separate verses.

Line 1 has 2 syllables.
Line 2 has 4 syllables.
Line 3 has 6 syllables.
Line 4 has 8 syllables.
Line 5 has 2 syllables.
Line 6 has 2 syllables.
Line 7 has 8 syllables.
Line 8 has 6 syllables.
Line 9 has 4 syllables.
Line 10 has 2 syllables.

Once you've written your poem, why not send it to us to be entered into our competition - You can send via post to: Forward Poetry, Remus House, Coltsfoot Drive, Peterborough PE2 9JX, or email it to inbox@forwardpoetry.co.uk.