March Madness Literacy Month Poetry Writing Challenge

Types of Poetry Cinquain Haiku Limerick Free Verse Blues Song

Cinquain

Limerick To begin, a limerick is a funny little poem containing five lines. The last words of the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with each other (A), and the last words of the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other (B). Here's an example: A Clumsy Young Fellow Named Tim A clumsy young fellow named Tim (A) was never informed how to swim. (A) He fell off a dock (B) and sunk like a rock. (B) And that was the end of him. (A)

Free Verse

Blues poetry… Find your feelings. Many people think that blues music means sad music. Not true. The blues can be happy or sad, but it must have some heartfelt emotion at its core to which the listener can relate. Express yourself. Now that you have an emotion, you need a line that will convey that feeling and since we are talking about the blues, you don't necessarily have to worry about being grammatically correct. A line such as "I Ain't Got Nobody To Stay At Home With Me" would be perfectly acceptable for blues music Repeat it. A blues song involves repeating the opening line. So, simply repeat that same line and you are halfway home. Rhyme it! It's a song. Once you have your opening two lines come up with a third line that rhymes. Name that tune. Now you are ready to give your blues tune a title with the title serving as a good hook for the song.

Before You Accuse Me by Bo Diddley Before you accuse me, take a look at yourself You say I’m spending money on other woman, you’re taking money from someone else!

Stormy Monday Blues by T Bone Walker They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad They call it stormy Monday, but Tuesday's just as bad Lord and Wednesday's worse, Thursday's oh so sad

Crossroad Blues by Robert Johnson I went to the Crossroads, fell down on my knees Asked the Lord above for mercy, “Save poor, Bob if you please!”

Walkin’ Blues by Robert Johnson Woke up this morning I looked 'round for my shoes You know I had those mean old walking blues Yeah, I woke up this morning I looked 'round for my shoes Girl, I had those, ooh, mean old walking blues Some people tell me that worried blues ain't bad It's the worst old feeling I ever had People tell me that worried blues ain't bad It's the worst old feeling, ooh child, I ever had