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Hexastich envoy

Form
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A six-line concluding stanza that serves as a formal send-off or dedication

Detailed Definition
A hexastich envoy is a six-line concluding stanza that summarizes, addresses the reader, or sends the poem into the world, often used in sestinas or ballades to reflect on the preceding verses; its compact form allows for thematic distillation and direct engagement, functioning as both farewell and final commentary.
Example
Example in poetry:
In “The Faerie Queene,” Spenser uses hexastich envoys to address patrons; modern example: “Go, little poem, to her window sill. / Tell her the roses wilted yesterday. / Say I still wait, though hope grows thin. / The nights are long. The stars are cold. / If she asks why I write, reply: / Love has no other tongue but this.”; another: “Take this verse to the sea, / where gulls remember her name. / Let waves carry it west. / Let sand hold it close. / If she walks that shore, / let her know I’m still here.”
Additional Notes
A hexastich envoy is a six-line concluding stanza, often summarizing or addressing the reader; it appears in sestinas and other fixed forms as a formal send-off.
Also Known As
Six-line coda Final sextet Concluding hexastich Six-line envoy
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