Poetry Style Guide
ABC Poem-- A poem with one word per line. The writer begins with any letter in the alphabet for the first word; the next line begins with teh next letter of the alphabet and so on. The poem may be as long or as short as desired, and the alphabet may be used backwards too.
| All
Butterflies
Can
Dance on
Each
Flower
Giving
Hope
In
June
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Acrostic Poem-- The first letter in each line can be read vertically to form a word.
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Smile
Mandatory
In
Laughing
Effectively
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Everybody
Needs
Good
Language
I'm
Studying
Hard
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Concrete/Picture Poem-- An idea that is expressed in both verbal and pictorial form.
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Hemophiliac's Manifesto
I write with red ink.
I figure if I bleed
my life into poems
it might as well
look like it.
|
Suck it in
Late --as usual-- hurry hurry hurry
I forgot to do the wash last night
Actually I didn't forget
I read a book instead
Couldn't find my
favorite jeans they
must be on the floor
of the laundry room
I'm sure these will fit
I think they will fit . . .
Haven't worn them lately
I thought they fit me last year --
or maybe it was the year before that?
For crying out loud -- must have been 1989
That's it I give up . . . where are my sweatpants?
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Found Poem-- A found poem is made with words and phrases from something you read or hear. It uses someone else's words, but the poet combines them in a new way.
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Where's the Hospital Zone When You Need It?
By Bruce Lansky
Men Working
Slow
Weak Shoulders
|
Don't Stop At This Restaurant
By Bruce Lansky
Next Exit
Taco Bell
Food
Gas
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Cinquain-- Five-line poem that follows a distinct pattern as follows:
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line 1: a one-word title
line 2: two words describing the title
line 3: three words expressing action
line 4: four words expressing a feeling
line 5: another word for the title
|
Computers
speedy, amazing
typing, surfing, IMing
freezing, error, corrupt file
Frustrating!
|
Diamante-- seven-line poem that has a specific format as follows:
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line 1: one-word title
line 2: two words describing the title
line 3: three -ing words telling about the title
line 4: four nouns relating to the title
line 5: three -ing words describing line 7
line 6: two words describing line 7
line 7: one word that is nearly the opposite of the title
|
Night
dark, tired
slumbering, snoring, dwindling
moon, darkness, shadows, quiet
rising, shining, awakening
sunny, bright
Day
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Wingspark-- has 5 lines which follow a specific pattern:
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line 1: "I dreamed"
line 2: answers the question Who?
line 3: answers the question Where?
line 4: shows action
line 5: describes how the action was done
|
I dreamed
Martin Luther King Jr.
Came to my classroom
Bringing the message of hope to all
with his words
|
List Poem-- any number of lines in the poem that list ideas, usually without transitional phrases. List poems may be based on any possible concept (things that are beautiful, things that are ugly, things I found when I cleaned my room, things you shouldn't do with a lawnmower...)
|
What I Love About Summer
By Douglas Florian
Morning glories
Campfire stories
Picking cherries
And blueberries
Riding bikes
Mountain hikes
Bird calls
Curve balls
Short sleeves
Green leaves
Swimming holes
Fishing poles
Nature walks
Corn stalks
Skipping stones
Ice cream cones
Double plays
And barefoot days.
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Clerihew-- 4 line poem with AABB rhyme scheme that starts with a name.
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Lewis Carroll
bought sumptuous apparel
and built an enormous palace
out of the profits of Alice
--E. Clerihew Bently
|
Mr. H.G. Wells
was composed of cells.
He thought the human race
was a perfect disgrace
--E. Clerihew Bently
|
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
thinks he's best by far.
But Dr. J puts him to shame
with moves throughout the game.
--unknown
|
Haiku-- three lines in length and usually about nature. The first line must have five syllables, the second line seven syllables and the third line five syllables.
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The young tree bending
the wind whispering the way
swaying back again.
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Limerick-- stylized rhymes - always 5 lines. The first, second and fifth lines rhyme, and the third and fourth rhyme.
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There once was a dog from the pound.
She liked to escape to downtown.
She snuck out one night,
and gave us a fright,
but by morning was back sleeping sound.
|
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Free Verse-- It's not that no rules apply to free verse; rather, the poet makes up the rules for each poem! Free verse done well will have rhythm, though it may not have a regular beat. A variety of poetic devices may be woven throughout the piece. There may be patterns of sound and repetition. Free verse can be compared to a song that doesn't rhyme. There is still a lyrical quality to it.
|
joyride
the sun bounces
off the metallic blue
of the chevy
and the gravel road dust
eats at the green
as we rumble by
glancing at everything
noticing nothing
we rush to live
we look with affection
and acknowledge the day
for what it contains
and what it implies
of simple complications
your beautiful eyes
and my smile
too bright
for the afternoon
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Sonnet-- a fourteen-line poem that has a strict form and rhyme scheme, but freedom of topic within the form.
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Sonnet 71 --No longer mourn for me when I am dead
By William Shakespeare
No longer mourn for me when I am dead
Then you shall hear the surly sullen bell
Give warning to the world that I am fled
From this vile world, with vilest worms to dwell:
Nay, if you read this line, remember not
The hand that writ it; for I love you so
That I in your sweet thoughts would be forgot
If thinking on me then should make you woe.
O, if, I say you look upon this verse
When I perhaps compounded am with clay,
Do not so much as my poor name rehearse.
But let your love even with my life decay,
Lest the wise world should look into your moan
And mock you with me after I am gone.
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***There are many more poetry forms, but these are just a few we will talk about in class***
All poems on this page copyright Jeannie Krambeer unless otherwise stated.
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