The Last Flame

This Challenge is part of the Vocal+ Fall Poetry Series. Learn more

The Prompt

This is the final challenge in our Vocal+ Fall Poetry Series, and it’s all about endings. Flames fade, fires burn out, and what remains is ash, memory, or the promise of something new.

Your poem might take fire as destruction, as warmth, as memory, or as transformation. However you approach it, let the flame guide you to what it means to reach an ending, whether it arrives with silence or with a burst of light.

Write like you are watching the last fire fade.

In order for your submission to qualify, it must be:

• A poem (any style or structure is welcome)
• Between 100 and 500 words.
• Submitted to the Poets community. Your story will be disqualified if it is submitted to any other community.
• Submitted before December 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST.
• Your work must be original and unpublished.

The Prizes

• 5 Winners: $200 each
• 15 Runners-up: $15 each
• 10 Honorable Mentions: $5 each

For your story to be eligible, it must be between 100 and 500 words and adhere to our Community Guidelines.

Stories published on Vocal and entered into the Challenge up until December 19, 2025 at 11:59 PM EST will be entered for consideration. Official Rules for the Challenge can be found here.

The The Last Flame Challenge is exclusive to Vocal+ members. To learn more and upgrade to Vocal+, visit https://everydaydealxhub.live/vocal-plus%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/span%3E%3C/a%3E.%3C/p%3E%3Cp class="css-1923z11-Text">To be eligible to win, you must be over the age of 13 and reside in a country where Stripe is available at the time of entry. A complete list of countries where Stripe is available can be found here—winners will need a Stripe account created and connected to receive prizes. Entrants located outside of these countries will not be eligible to win.