Kinds of Poetry

Acrostic In Acrostic poems, the first letters of each line are aligned vertically to form a word. The word often is the subject of the poem. L oves to play on the computer A lways humorous U nique in every way R unning, jumping, tumbling at gym E xceptionally bright L earner

Cinquain Cinquain poems are five lines long with a certain number of syllables or words in each. Cinquain poems do not rhyme. There are many ways to write cinquain poems. Here is an example of one cinquain pattern. Pattern Line 1: Title - one word or two syllables Line 2: Description or example of the title - 2 words or four syllables Line 3: Action about the title - a 3 word phrase or six syllables Line 4: a 4 word phrase describing a feeling about the title or 8 syllables Line 5: Synonym for the title - one word - 2 syllables Example Panther Sleek, graceful Running, hiding, emerging Happy to be free Cat

Concrete Poetry Concrete poems form a picture of the topic or follows the contour of a shape that is suggested by the topic.

Couplets The couplet is the easiest of the verse forms. It consists of two lines with an end rhyme. Example: Grandmother sits in her old rocking chair. She rocks and she rocks all day there.

Diamante Diamonte poems are easy poems to write. You need to think of a subject and its opposite and then follow the format listed below: Pattern: First line: one word (subject). Second line: two adjectives describing the subject Third line: three words ending in -ing telling about the subject Fourth line: four words, the first two describe the subject and the last two describe its opposite Fifth line: three words ending in -ing telling about the opposite Sixth line: two adjectives describing the opposite Seventh line: one word (opposite from the first line)

Diamante continued

Limericks A limerick is a funny little poem containing five lines. Pattern: The pattern is AABBA. The last words of the first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with each other (A) The last words of the third and fourth lines rhyme with each other (B) It should also have a rhythm pattern, like da DUM da da DUM da da DUM for the first, second, and fifth lines (A) da da DUM da da DUM for the third and fourth lines (B). Make sure your limerick has the pattern by reciting it with “da” for all unaccented or unstressed syllables and “DUM” for all the accented or stressed syllables.

Limerick continued Example: 1. There once was a girl named Cheryl (A) (da DUM da da DUM da da DUM) 2. Who dreamed she was in great peril (A) (da DUM da da DUM da da DUM) 3. She awoke wtth a fright B) (da da DUM da da DUM) 4. When she discovered the sight (B) (da da DUM da da DUM) 5. The “monster” was just a small squirrel. (A) (da DUM da da DUM da da DUM)

Haiku A form of centuries old Japanese poetry that consists of seventeen syllables, has nature as its subject or theme, and conveys emotion. Pattern 5-7-5 syllable structure 5 syllables in the first line 7 syllables in the second line 5 syllables in the third line Example As I lay and gaze Blue skies and white clouds Billowing high above me

Tanka Tanka is another form of Japanese poetry. Themes for Tanka are love, nature, seasons, and friendships. Pattern consists of 31 syllables (5-7-5-7-7). Example: Wind Wind blowing my face Making my cheeks rosy red It's biting my nose And chilling through all my bones It is pushing me along

Free Verse A free verse poem has no rhyme, rhythm, or particular structure It can be about anything Hug O'War from the book "Where the Sidewalk Ends" (1974) I will not play at tug o' war. I'd rather play at hug o' war, Where everyone hugs Instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles And rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, And everyone grins, And everyone cuddles, And everyone wins.

Quatrain “Quatr” means 4 This type of poem has 4 lines with a pattern Aabb Abab Aaaa abcd