1. poems with a special edge…
Acrostic poems
poems with a special edge…

2. Tan Athletic Resourceful Zooms Assertive Nimble
TARZAN
Tan Athletic Resourceful Zooms Assertive Nimble

3. CAT
Can’t Avoid Trouble

4. Takes a Really Astounding Stomach to Handle this mess.
TRASH
Takes a Really Astounding Stomach to Handle this mess.

5. MARY
Marvelous artist Adores her white poodle Reads books all day Youth soccer is her sport

6. ACROSTICS The acrostic is an ancient form of poetry.
The word acrostic comes from the Greek word akrostikhis:
akron = end stikhos = line
One famous acrostic was written by Edgar Allen Poe, called “A Valentine to ______.”

7. “A Valentine to ______”
In this poem, Poe did not use the traditional setup for an acrostic. Instead, he hid the name of his friend in the lines: For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes, Brightly expressive as the twins of Leda, Shall find her own sweet name, that nestling lies Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader. Search narrowly the lines!—they hold a treasure Divine—a talisman—an amulet That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure—

8. How do you find out who it’s for?
The letters are one to a line…the first letter is the first letter of the first line:
For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes,
The first letter of her name is…
The second letter is the second letter of the second line:
Brightly expressive as the twins of Leda,
The second letter of her name is… F r

9. So who is this Valentine for?
Follow the pattern…
For her this rhyme is penned, whose luminous eyes, Brightly expressive as the twins of Leda, Shall find her own sweet name, that nestling lies Upon the page, enwrapped from every reader. Search narrowly the lines!—they hold a treasure Divine—a talisman—an amulet That must be worn at heart. Search well the measure—
So who is this Valentine for? Fr a n c e s

10. There are several ways to write an acrostic poem…
It can be a list, with a different item or characteristic (trait) on each line.
“Mary” is a list of phrases. “Tarzan” is a list of words.
Tan
Athletic
Resourceful
Zooms
Assertive
Nimble
Marvelous artist
Adores her white poodle
Reads books all day
Youth soccer is her sport

11. There are several ways to write an acrostic poem…
An acrostic can comprise a statement or question that works its way through the poem.
“Cat” and “Trash” are statements.
Takes a
Really
Astounding
Stomach to
Handle this mess.
Can’t
Avoid
Trouble

12. To write an acrostic… You first need to think about your subject.
Complete the Personal Inventory as honestly as possible.
No one in the class will read what you write unless you decide to share.
Write words, phrases, thoughts, and feelings.
Do not worry about spelling.

13. Now find the right details…
Complete Finding the Right Details.
Look at the words and phrases on your Personal Inventory.
Underline those that are most important to you.
Choose the “telling details” (those that others may not know about you, but they reveal part of you).
Do any of your items have a common theme? This could unify your acrostic poem.

14. Start your first draft…
Once you’ve selected your details, you’ll be writing your first draft.
Then write it differently. Be sure it’s still about the same subject, but choose different details or different words or phrases.
Decide which one you prefer. This is what you’ll use to write your final draft.

15. EXAMPLES OF ACROSTICS Marvelous artist Adores her white poodle
Reads books all day
Youth soccer is her sport
Takes a Really Astounding Stomach to Handle this mess.
Tan
Athletic
Resourceful
Zooms
Assertive
Nimble
Can’t
Avoid
Trouble

16. Edgar Allan Poe Edgar Allen Poe
Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was an American writer, poet, editor and literary critic, considered part of the American Romantic Movement. Best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, Poe was one of the earliest American authors of the short story and is considered the inventor of the detective-fiction genre. He is further credited with contributing to the emerging genre of science fiction.
Word to Know: Macabre (pronounced “mak-kahb”) is a quality of certain artistic or literary works, characterized by a grim or ghastly atmosphere. In these works, there is an emphasis on the details and symbols of death.