Five Forms of Poetry
Cinquain
Cinquain is a form of poetry based on syllables and five lines. The first line states the title with two syllables. The second line has four syllables and describes the title. The third line has six syllables and states an action. The fourth line has eight syllables and expresses a feeling. The fifth line has two syllables and is another word for the title.
Example:
Sea foam
Salty water
Blowing over the boat
The wind makes me feel so relaxed
Oceans
Shape
A shape poem is written as a picture of the subject the poem is about. Example:
Rhyming
You may select almost any pattern for a rhyming poem. Pairs of lines, alternating lines or every line may rhyme. A good way to begin is to list many words that rhyme and then put them into sentences to make a poem. Example:
The submarine slowly rose from the ocean floor,
Powerful engines began to roar,
Animals of the sea scattered with fright,
What was this new creature with its eyes so bright?
Limericks
Limericks are a jingling verse form of five lines, with lines one, two and five rhyming, as do lines three and four. Example:
There once was a manatee named Molly.
She was always so playful and jolly.
Her flippers were strong
And pushed her along
"I'm a swimming sea cow, by golly."
Acrostic Poetry
Begin by choosing the word the poem will be written about. Brainstorm words that begin with each letter. Each sentence begins with the leading letter in the main word, and together the sentences describe the main word. Example:
Salty seawater washes it ashore,
Tiny rays which are its arms
Armored plates covered with spines,
Reaching out for food nearby
Five arms to clasp its prey,
If an arm is lost, it will regrow,
Sun-dried to be collected by you,
Have fun combing the beach for some.