Types of Poems

Haiku Japanese poem Usually describes something in nature Written in a form Line 1: five syllables Line 2: seven syllables Line 3: five syllables

Haiku Samples The beaches waves hit Sounding of flooding water Soothes aches all over -Tiffany, age 13 Silence around us Our watchful eyes hear the world Hands do the talking -Jennifer, age 14 The wind is blowing It is blowing very hard I don't like the wind. -Amanda, age 12

Tanka Poem Asian poem A thank you to a haiku 5 lines long Line 1: five syllables Line 2: seven syllables Line 3: five syllables Line 4: seven syllables Line 5: seven syllables

Tanka Samples Beautiful mountains Rivers with cold, cold water. White cold snow on rocks Trees over the place with frost White sparkly snow everywhere.

                                                    Pretty colored trees That are orange, red and yellow In the Autumn air An old barn by the water With a white fence around it. Tanka Samples, cont. Pretty colored trees That are orange, red and yellow In the Autumn air An old barn by the water With a white fence around it.

Cinquain Simple, five-line verse poem that follows a form Line 1: one noun of two syllables Line 2: four-five syllables (words that describe the subject) Line 3: six syllables (telling an action of the subject) Line 4: eight syllables (expressing a feeling or sharing information about the subject) Line 5: another two-syllable noun describing the subject

Cinquain Samples Puppy Ornery, naughty Growling, jumping, chewing A playful bundle of trouble Boxer River Clear, wonderful Slapping, whirling, flowing The river is cold. Water

More Cinquain Samples Dove Active, free Flying, sitting, crying A dove is free. Bird Shoe Leather sole Squeaking, sliding, walking Comfortable, uncomfortable, tight, colorful Footwear