Poetry Forms

Let Your Freak Flag Fly!

Sometimes people think that Free Verse is just nothing but free thoughts. There's a bit more to it, though.

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Try it... You might like it!

You might want to write a free verse poem.

Remember to

1. include some kind of pattern or rhythm
2. show feelings, emotions or your senses
3. Have Fun!

String It Along!

Sometimes this form of poetry is called STRING poetry, because that is the kind of pattern that is used. Acrostic poems let you think creatively while you follow a set pattern. An acrostic poem structure, or pattern, is that the letters of a word for the theme of the poem are written down like a string. For example, a poem about you would take your name letters down -- a line for each letter of your name – then each line uses that letter to tell about you. Sometimes the letters down are at the beginning, but they can be at the end or even in the middle of the line. You can use just words, or sentences or even paragraphs!

Explore Acrostic Poetry on YouTube.

Try it... You might like it!

You might want to write an acrostic poem.

Remember to

1. write the title/subject down in capital letters
2. show feelings, emotions or your senses
3. Have Fun!

Round them up or fill them up!

You can really get creative with concrete poems. Sometimes this poetry form is called concrete design or shape poetry. Each poem makes a picture of the theme of the poem as the structure, or pattern, of the poem. For example, a poem about a tree could take the shape of an actual tree. A poem about a breeze could meander all over the page like a breeze might. We did one of these poems for a New Year’s noisemaker. You can write around the shape or you can fill the shape with the words of the poem.

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Try it... You might like it!

You might want to write a concrete poem.

Remember to

1. Lightly draw your shape first.
2. Show feelings, emotions or your senses
3. Erase your shape lines when the words are all finished.
4. Have Fun!

Five Is The Magic Number

A Cinquain poem has five lines. Line one has one word and is the title or subject. Line two describes the subject with strong adjectives with two words. Line three uses three words action words ending with -ing. Line four uses four words that show a feeling. It can be a sentence or just a phrase. Line five uses one word that restates the subject. It can be a synonym

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Get with the Beat!

The structure, or pattern of haiku can be easy for you to create a very meaningful poem. Haiku has only three lines. You can choose from two different styles. In one, the first and third lines are five syllables and the middle line has seven syllables. The second style is a little easier. The first and third lines are seven syllables and the middle line has nine syllables Haiku usually focuses on something in nature. Notice that the beats are syllables and NOT words.

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Just for Chuckles

Limericks rhyme like nursery rhymes but usually have a silly theme. Limericks follow a special rhyme scheme in five lines. The first two lines and the last line usually have seven to 10 syllables and rhyme with each other. , Lines three and four contain five to seven beats and rhyme with each other.

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