Poetry Forms

1. Poetry Forms There are no limits to the forms of poetry. Here are some that you might like to try. DIAMONTE HAIKU EXIT CINQUAIN LIMERICK CLARIHEW RHYME SCHEMES

2. HAIKU There are many rules about haiku writing. It is a Japanese form, and more involved than we tend to think. But, for beginners, this rule will be enough: A Haiku is a poem composed of three lines of 5, 7 and 5 syllables.

3. I am first with fiveThen seven in the middle --Five again to end.

4. Green and speckled legs,Hop on logs and lily padsSplash in cool water.

5. He is somewhat large Glasses, ties, and checkered shirts He is not quiet HOME

6. The CinquainA Cinquain has five lines: Line 1 = 2 syllables, Line 2 = 4 syllablesLine 3 = 6 syllables, Line 4 = 8 syllablesLine 5 = 2 syllables A Cinquain doesn't rhyme.The poem should build to a climax and have strong words on the end line.

7. Apple Red, delicious Healthy and natural Crispy, cold, and really crunchy Yummy!

8. My dress: It’s new and now. I’m looking fabulous, Just like a magazine model! Knock Out!

9. HomelessCold, painful, hard. Life is always struggle.A place without mercy or hope.Unkind HOME

10. The Clarihew Clerihews have just a few simple rules: Four lines. Lines 1 & 2 rhyme with each other and Lines 3 & 4 rhyme with each other: AABB The first line names a person (usually a famous person), and the rest of the lines are about that person. A clerihew should be funny. You don't have to count syllables or words, and rhythm is not a problem.

11. E. C. BentleyMused while he ought to have studied intently;It was this museThat inspired clerihews.

12. Barak H. Obama Made proud his mama She has nothing to repent Her boy’s the president

13. Paul Revere! Light one or two lamps for he whom we cheer. Through the April night he carried the word, And around the world---a shot was heard. HOME

14. The Limerick A limerick is a verse of five lines. The first, second, and fifth lines rhyme with each other, and generally have about nine syllables. The shorter third and fourth lines rhyme with each other, and generally have about six syllables. Limericks should be humorous.

15. How to Write a Limerick A limerick ought to be funny Like the sun in the sky should be sunny. It needn't be X-rated, Just cleverly stated, Or even a little bit punny.

16. May the Force Be with You There once was a class of fifth graders That was meaner than thirty Darth Vaders. But though his voice got real hoarse, Mr. O had the force, And the space goons said, "We'll check ya later!"

17. The Wearin’ o’ the Green On Saint Patrick’s Day we wear green Or we’d be afraid to be seen. If you don’t want to flinch Because of a pinch, You have to dress up like a string bean!

18. ! Romeo and Juliet There once were two star-crossed lovers Who disobeyed their fathers and mothers. They wanted to wed, But ended up dead; Would have been better if they had been brothers. ---Room 17 (whole group) HOME

19. The Diamante The diamante is a shape poem in a rhombic (diamond) form consisting of seven lines, each line made up of one of the Parts of Speech, as in the pattern below: Noun Adjective-Adjective Verb - Verb - Verb Noun - Noun/Noun - Noun Verb - Verb - Verb Adjective-Adjective Noun

20. The Diamante generally presents opposites. If the first word (line 1) is “Above” the final word (line 7) would probably be “Under.” If the first word is “love,” then the last word would probably be “hate.”

21. Mountain High, rocky Flying, looking, killing Eagle, power, fear, rabbit Living, moving, singing Deep, beautiful Valley

22. Sun Hot, bright Burning, warming, illuminating Nuclear fission, celestial satellite Glowing, reflecting, freezing Lifeless, empty Moon

23. WinterFrosty, BrightSkiing, Snow Boarding, SleddingIcicles, Snowflakes, Vacation, FamilySwimming, Sun Tanning, SwelteringHot, SunnySummer HOME

24. Rhyme Schemes Poets are purposeful in the design of their poems. Rhyme is not as dominant in poetry as it once was, but an appreciation of the subtlety of the rhyming art is essential to the study of poetry. It is harder than it looks.

25. Couplets Couplets are just simple rhymes, two lines of generally equal length that rhyme (AA). There was an old lady who lived in a shoe Had so many children, didn’t know what to do.

26. But the poet can string the couplets together (AABBCC): Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind. Nor hath Love's mind of any judgment taste; Wings, and no eyes, figure unheedy haste: And therefore is Love said to be a child, Because in choice he is so oft beguiled. ---Shakespeare

27. Triplets Triplets are three line stanzas. The poet can rhyme the three lines. There can be multiple stanzas in a poem. ABC or AAA or AAA BBB CCC …

28. Beautiful is the light to one no longer blind.Marvelous is the light as mast'ry sparks our mind.Golden is mercy's Light when God's good grace we find.

29. The Griot The village children gather ‘roundand make a circle on the groundlistening to his every sound The hunt, the chase, the catch, the killthe battles on a distant hillnight time terrors, a ghostly chill The trickster and the lion kingthe egrets rising on the wing with your heart you hear one sing

30. The Quatrain The word “quatrain” simply means a four line stanza. There are many possible rhyme schemes.

31. ABCB Roses are red Violets are blue Sugar is sweet And so are you

32. ABAB Roses are red Violets are blue You never said But I always knew

33. AAAB It sticks in my head That it has been said That roses are red While violets are blue

34. ABBA Everyone knows that roses are red And that violets are said to be blue Both of those points I admit to be true I never have otherwise said

35. AABA Whose woods these are I think I know His house is in the village though He will not see me stopping here To watch his woods fill up with snow ---Robert Frost HOME