Poetic Forms

Poetic Forms

Poetry comes in a variety of forms. Some forms have
more structure than others. Some follow rules that
have to do with rhyming, syllables, repetition, etc.
Others are an expression that are fully in the hands
of the author.
Explore these common forms, and give them a try.
ABC Poem
In an ABC poem, each line of the poem begins with a
letter in the alphabet, starting with A and moving in
order through Z.
Examples of ABC poems:
A Friend
Chaotic Places
Alphabet of Love
ABC's of Him
A Beautiful Child
General Templates of ABC Poem (PDF):
ABC Poem Template on 1 page  ABC Poem Template
on 2 pages 
Acrostic
This is a form of poetry where the first or last letters
of each line create a name, word, or phrase.
You can find these words by looking vertically at the
beginning or end of the lines.
Examples of Acrostic poems:
Gently Picked Flower
Rainbow
Bernetta V. Smith
My Sister Is Loving
The Golden Rule
A Cry For Help
Motivation
A Family
Bio Poem
A bio poem is used to reveal information to the
reader about the poet.
Line 1: First name
Line 2: Who is... (descriptive words that describe
you)
Line 3: Who is the brother/sister or son/daughter
of...
Line 4: Who loves...(three ideas)
Line 5: Who feels...(three ideas)
Line 6: Who needs...(three ideas)
Line 7: Who gives...(three ideas)
Line 8: Who fears...(three ideas)
Line 9: Who would like to see...(three ideas)
Line 10: Who shares...(three ideas)
Line 11: Who is...(three ideas)
Line 12: Who is a resident of...(your town)
Line 13: Last name
Example of a Bio poem:
Tynea
Who is creative, loyal, and quiet.
Who is the sister of Travis.
Who loves writing, fall, and a good book.
Who feels excitement, anticipation, and joy.
Who needs quiet, sleep, and love.
Who fears crocodiles, losing loved ones, and knives.
Who would like to see miracles, more sunrises, and
Ireland.
Who shares laughs, hugs, and advice.
Who is a writer, mother, and friend.
Who is a resident of Pennsylvania.
Lewis
Bio Poem Template (PDF) 
Cinquain
A cinquain is a 5 line poem that follows a specific
format. There are various types of cinquains. Some
are created with a number of words or syllables in
mind. Another form is created using various parts of
speech.
Words:
Line 1- 1 word
Line 2- 2 words
Line 3- 3 words
Line 4- 4 words
Line 5- 1 word
Examples of cinquains based on word count:
Sun
Poems Don't Have to Rhyme
Syllables:
Line 1-2 syllables
Line 2- 4 syllables
Line 3- 6 syllables
Line 4- 8 syllables
Line 5- 2 syllables
Examples of cinquains based on syllable count:
Morning by Tynea Lewis
Restless
Waiting for light
Darkness covers the earth
Until sun crests over the hill
Morning
Eucalyptus Tree House
Parts of Speech:
Line 1- noun
Line 2- 2 adjectives
Line 3- 3 -ing words
Line 4- a phrase
Line 5- another word for the noun from line 1
Example of a cinquain based on parts of speech:
Car by Tynea Lewis
Car
Fast, yellow
Speeding, swerving, moving
Carrying teenagers away
Transportation
General Templates for Cinquains (PDF):
Cinquain Template-Word Count  Cinquain Template-
Syllable Count  Cinquain Template-Parts of Speech 
Concrete
A concrete poem is written in a way that the words
create the shape of the subject of the poem.
Examples of Concrete Poems:
A View Of A Cat
Sword
Girls Are Like Apple Trees
Diamante
A diamante poem is a 7 line poem that looks like a
diamond. It does not have to rhyme.
It can be used to describe 1 topic or 2 opposite
topics.
Line 1: 1 word (subject/noun)
Line 2: 2 adjectives that describe line 1
Line 3: 3 -ing words that relate to line 1
Line 4: 4 nouns (first 2 relate to line 1, last 2 relate to
line 7--if you're writing about opposite topics)
Line 5: 3 -ing words that relate to line 7
Line 6: 2 adjectives that describe line 7
Line 7: 1 word (subject/noun)
Examples of Diamante Poems:
Loyalty Betrayal (Diamante)
A Diamante Poem: NOISE
General Templates for Diamante Poems
Synonym Diamante (PDF)  Antonym Diamante-color
coded (PDF) 
Emotion Poem
An emotion poem is used to describe various
emotions, good or bad, using descriptive language.
There are a couple different emotion poem formats to
follow, and you could always come up with your
own.
Line 1: State the emotion
Line 2: Describe the emotion as a color
Line 3: It happens when...
Line 4: It sounds like...
Line 5: And smells like...
Line 6: Restate the emotion
Example of an Emotion poem:
Anger by Tynea Lewis
Anger
Is the color of lava spilling from a volcano.
It happens when a vase shatters into slivers on the
floor.
It sounds like a car screeching to a halt
And smells like burning toast.
Anger
Line 1: State the emotion
Line 2: It smells like...
Line 3: It tastes like...
Line 4: It sounds like...
Line 5: It feels like...
Line 6: It looks like...
Line 7: (Emotion) is...
Example of an emotion poem:
Love by Tynea Lewis
Love
It smells like a deep red rose opening in the sun.
It tastes like delectable chocolate melting in your
mouth.
It sounds like the birds chirping on a clear spring
morning.
It feels like a fire on a cold winter's night.
It looks like an ocean scene painted by God.
Love is unpredictable and breathtaking.
Try writing an emotion poem yourself:
Emotion Poem Template (PDF)  Emotion Poem
Template-5 senses (PDF) 
Free Verse
Free verse poems do not follow any rules. Their
creation is completely in the hands of the author.
Rhyming, syllable count, punctuation, number of
lines, number of stanzas, and line formation can be
done however the author wants in order to convey
the idea.
There is no right or wrong way to create these
poems.
Examples of Free Verse Poems:
Dreaming On Paper
Hopeful Future
Swoosh, Boom, Crunch, Howl
The Pencil Case
The Dream
See Me
Without You
Dreaming of the Night
Haiku
This is a form of Japanese poetry that follows a
specific syllable pattern.
It's made up of 3 lines, consisting of 17 syllables in
total. Haikus are usually about a specific part of
nature.
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables
Examples of Haikus
Spring
October's Gold
Thanksgiving Haiku
First Blueberries of Summer
Buttercup Meadow
A Chandelier
Sakura Wa Kawaii Desuyo
Halloween
Try writing a haiku yourself:
Haiku Template (PDF) 
Limerick
A limerick is a short, humorous poem that follows a
determined rhyme scheme of AABBA.
This five line poem also follows a syllable count.
Line 1: 7-10 syllables
Line 2: 7-10 syllables
Line 3: 5-7 syllables
Line 4: 5-7 syllables
Line 5: 7-10 syllables
Examples of Limericks:
My Foolish Dog
The Elderly Toilet
Not Another Nantucket Limerick!
An Ice Cream Limerick
Guy Named Noah
The Man From Greece
Try writing a limerick yourself:
Limerick Template (PDF) 
Narrative
A narrative poem tells the story of an event in the
form of a poem.
Examples of Narrative Poems:
I Still Love You, You're My Big Brother
Buccaneers
One Look
Pantoum
A pantoum is a poem that uses a lot of repetition. To
create this poem, follow these steps.
Write a quatrain (4 line stanza). Writing
emotional lines usually works best.
Take lines 2 and 4 of the first stanza and make
them lines 1 and 3 of the second stanza.
Take lines 2 and 4 of the second stanza and
make them lines 1 and 3 of the third stanza.
Continue your poem using this pattern.
For your last stanza, go back to the first stanza
of the poem. Make line 3 of the first stanza line 2
of your last. Make line 1 of the first stanza line 4
in your last.
Example of pantoum:
Her Smile
Try writing a pantoum yourself:
Pantoum Template (PDF) 
Sonnet
A sonnet is a 14 line poem with a specific rhyme
scheme. Each type of sonnet follows a different
rhyming scheme.
English (Shakespearean) Sonnet
14 line poem
3 quatrains (4 line stanzas) followed by 1 couplet (2
line stanza)
Rhyming scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
All We Will Be By Tynea Lewis
He sits, paying no attention to me.
I wonder what is going through his head.
It hurts knowing friends is all we will be.
His unexpected glace turns my face red.
His mud brown eyes are so piercing and deep.
Then a smile fills his flawless, tanned face.
If only into his heart I could creep.
The slow motion moment makes my heart race.
Our time together is a dream come true
But I fear he can see into my heart.
When I am with him, I don't feel so blue,
But something new won't be able to start.
Since nothing will be, onward I must go.
These feelings I have to hide and not show.
Example of English (Shakespearean) Sonnet:
In The Shadow of Your Warm Love
A Geisha's Tale
Italian (Petrarchan) Sonnet
14 line poem
1 octave (8 line stanza) followed by 1 sestet (6 line
stanza)
Rhyming scheme of ABBAABBA CDCCDC (or
CDECDE)
When I Consider How My Light Is Spent By John
Milton
When I consider how my light is spent
Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,
And that one talent which is death to hide
Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent
To serve therewith my Maker, and present
My true account, lest he returning chide;
"Doth God exact day-labor, light denied?"
I fondly ask; but Patience to prevent
That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need
Either man's work or his own gifts; who best
Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state
Is kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed
And post o'er land and ocean without rest:
They also serve who only stand and wait."
Spenserian Sonnet
14 line poem
3 quatrains followed by 1 couplet
Rhyming scheme of ABAB BCBC CDCD EE
Edmund Spenser (c. 1552-1599)
What guile is this, that those her golden tresses
She doth attire under a net of gold;
And with sly skill so cunningly them dresses,
That which is gold or hair, may scarce be told?
Is it that men's frail eyes, which gaze too bold,
She may entangle in that golden snare;
And being caught may craftily enfold
Their weaker hearts, which are not yet well aware?
Take heed therefore, mine eyes, how ye do stare
Henceforth too rashly on that guileful net,
In which if ever ye entrapped are,
Out of her bands ye by no means shall get.
Folly it were for any being free,
To covet fetters, though they golden be.
General Templates for Sonnets (PDF):
English (Shakespearian) Sonnet  Italian
(Petrarchan) Sonnet  Spenserian Sonnet 
Tanka
A tanka is another Japanese form of poetry that
follows a syllable format.
This poem is composed of 5 lines. Lines 1 and 3
have 5 syllables. Lines 2, 4, and 5 contain 7
syllables each.
Line 1- 5 syllables
Line 2- 7 syllables
Line 3- 5 syllables
Line 4- 7 syllables
Line 5- 7 syllables
Tanka examples:
Journey of a Dewdrop By Paul Holmes
One diamond dewdrop
Sparkles in morning sunlight
Then, slowly drips down
A dandelion's green stem
Nourishing its thirsty roots.
Autumn's Snowflakes
Try writing a tanka yourself:
Tanka Template (PDF) 
Villanelle
5 tercets (3 line stanzas) with ABA rhyme scheme
Followed by 1 quatrain (4 line stanza) with ABAA
rhyme scheme
The first and third lines of the tercet are alternately
repeated as the last lines of the remaining stanzas.
Villanelle Examples:
The End By Tynea Lewis
No one told me about this pain.
Everything hurts, even my pride.
It's these emotions I am forced to contain.
Tears have fallen from my eyes like a steady rain.
Nothing can take back those nights I've cried.
No one told me about this pain.
My feelings I cannot even explain.
To you, my heart was open wide.
Now it's these emotions I have to contain.
I'm at the point where I feel nothing but shame
Because I thought you were going to be my guide.
If only I was warned about this pain.
With you is where I wanted to remain.
Now I have to continue on with a long stride,
But these emotions I am forced to contain.
Please tell me our relationship was not in vain.
I hope to not regret having tried.
No one told me about this pain.
It's these emotions I am forced to contain.
A Villanelle based on Matthew 25:40
Try writing a villanelle yourself:
Villanelle Template (PDF) 
Resources On The Web
Need help thinking of rhyming words or counting the
syllables in words?
Rhyming Dictionary (five types of rhymes)
Syllable Dictionary

By Tynea Lewis
 more By Tynea Lewis
ABC Poem • Acrostic • Bio Poem • Cinquain • Concrete • Diamante • Emotion Poem • Free Verse • Haiku • Limerick • Narrative • Pantoum • Sonnet • Tanka • Villanelle


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Music By Bessie Rayner Parkes

TEACH ME

Song About Old Troll - Lord of The Rings By J. R. R. Tolkien