Crossclimb #626 Answer – January 16, 2026
POETMUSE
Answer
POETMUSE
Combo Clue
“Two words: the first a kind of person who writes lyric verse, and the second an inspiration for that person”
📖 How I Solved It
I tackled puzzle #626 on January 16, 2026, and let me tell you, it was a ride! The combo clue, 'Two words: the first a kind of person who writes lyric verse, and the second an inspiration for that person,' had me stumped for a bit. I knew I was looking for 'poet,' but I couldn't quite nail down the second word. I threw out a couple of wrong guesses like 'art' and 'idea' before finally landing on 'muse.' The word ladder was fun, though! I loved jumping from 'poet' to 'muse' through those intermediary words. I got a little confused with 'ruse' and 'rust' because they sounded similar, but in the end, I got there. It felt great to finally piece it together!
💡 Tips for This Puzzle
- •Focus on the clues carefully—they're often more straightforward than they seem.
- •Don't hesitate to jot down your wrong guesses; they can lead you to the right answer.
- •Keep the definitions of the words in mind; sometimes, one word can lead to another unexpectedly.