Poetry Booklet Instructions
Below are the minimum requirements for your unique and clever
poetry book. Type, number and save all pages as you go to make things
easier. The final version of your book should include pictures and
designs to make your book attractive.
Activity
Page
Cover- A neat and attractive colorful shape poem that includes Front
your name, a title and the year.
Cover
Table of Contents (Follow this guide.)
A short dedication “Here’s to” poem
1
Definition poem
2
Clerihew
3
Cinquain
4
Diamante
5
Limerick
6
Haiku or Tanka
7
A News Poem
8
Free verse
9
*Optional Poems-one per page
*Optional Favorite Poems Section
About the author section. This should include general
Last
background about your life such as information about your
page
family and interests. It should also include some insight as to
why you picked the topics that you did for this book. Be sure
to add a picture of yourself to this section.
Back cover-ABC Poem
Back
Cover
Poem Samples and Links
Concrete or Shape Poem
http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/shape.html
A concrete poem is written in the actual shape of the subject of the
poem. Here is a concrete poem. You can tell what it is about without
even reading it!
The link below will create a poem inside of a shape, but it may not look as
cool. Try it!
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/theme_poems/
Here’s To Poem
Patterns (Write several stanzas)
Here’s to_____________________________________
Who_________________________________________
Who_________________________________________
And who_____________________________________
Here’s to_____________________________________
When________________________________________
When________________________________________
And when____________________________________
Sample:
Here’s to my grandparents
Who love to see me;
Who make me feel welcome;
Who love me very much,
And who never get mad at me.
Here’s to my grandparents
Who always send me cards;
Who like to make me happy;
And who let me spend the night,
Here’s to my grandparents
Who will never stop loving me and caring about me;
Whom I will never stop loving and caring about.
Definition Poem
A definition poem defines something using metaphors or imagery.
This is special language that paints a picture for the reader. It is much
more interesting than a regular dictionary definition. Definition poems
generally use free verse (which means that they have no regular
rules for rhythm or meter).
Here is an example of a definition poem:
Dancing is beautiful movement
Dancing is freedom
It is a means of self-expression
Dance brings out our emotions
Dance is a form of communication
It allows your heart to speak
Dancing is poetry in motion
Dancing is free
Dancing is my life
Clerihew Poem
Clerihews have just a few simple rules:
1. They are four lines long.
2. The first and second lines rhyme with each other, and the third and
fourth lines rhyme with each other.
3. The first line names a person, and the second line ends with
something that rhymes with the name of the person.
4. A clerihew should be funny.
Our art teacher, Mr. Shaw,
Really knows how to draw.
But his awful paintings
Have caused many faintings
http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/lessons/how-to-write-a-clerihew/
http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/shape.html
Cinquain Poem
A cinquain is a five-line poem (like “cinco” for five in Spanish). The
first line is one word, usually a noun, which is the main subject of the
poem. The second line contains two adjectives that describe the topic.
The third line has three verbs that relate to the topic. The fourth line
has four words that can be a phrase or sentence telling something
about the topic. The fifth line is a single word that is another word for
the topic. Here is an example of a cinquain:
Clowns
Silly, Funny
Running, jumping, laughing
They make the circus so much fun
Performers
http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/poetry/cinquain.html
Diamante Poem
A diamante is similar to a cinquain, but it has seven lines. Diamante
poems have the shape of a diamond. The first line is one noun. The
second line is two adjectives. The third line has three participles (-ing
verbs). The fourth line has four nouns. Then the pattern repeats the
opposite direction. The fifth line has three participles (-ing verbs). The
sixth line has two adjectives. The seventh line has one noun.
Here is a diamante poem:
https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/types-diamante-poem
Limerick Poem
A limerick is a silly or humorous poem that follows a specific pattern.
Lines 1, 2, and 5 are longer and rhyme with each other. Lines 3 and 4
are shorter and rhyme with each other.
Here is an example of a limerick:
There was a young lady from Leeds
Who swallowed a package of seeds.
Now this sorry young lass
Is quite covered in grass,
But has all the tomatoes she needs.
Anonymous
An ambitious young fellow named Matt
Tried to parachute using his hat.
Folks below looked so small
As he started to fall,
Then got bigger and bigger and SPLAT!
Graham Lester
Is Algebra fruitless endeavor?
It seems they’ve been trying forever
To find x, y, and z
And it’s quite clear to me:
If they’ve not found them yet then they'll never.
Graham Lester
http://grahamlester.webs.com/kids.htm
http://www.brownielocks.com/kidlimericks.html
Haiku Poem
Haiku poetry comes from Japan. Haiku poems have three lines. They
follow very specific rules. The first line has five syllables, the second
line has seven syllables, and the third line has five syllables. Haiku
poems do not rhyme. Often, the topic is related to nature or the
seasons.
Haiku example:
Autumn leaves falling
Turning shades of red and brown
Seasons are changing
My homework is late.
My dog ate it this morning.
I sure like my dog.
http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/lessons/how-to-write-a-haiku/
Tanka Poem
Tanka, which means “short song,” has been an important literary form in
Japanese culture for nearly a thousand years. The original Japanese form of
tanka had only one line of poetry containing 31 speech sounds—what we
would call syllables. However, most tanka poems that are written in English
today are broken into five poetic lines with a certain number of syllables in
each line.The basic structure of a tanka poem is 5 – 7 – 5 – 7 – 7. In other
words, there are 5 syllables in line 1, 7 syllables in line 2, 5 syllables in line
3, and 7 syllables in lines 4 and 5. If you have ever written a haiku, you will
notice that tanka is kind of like a longer version of haiku that gives you a
little more room to tell a story. Here is one example of a tanka poem:
Crash at two A.M.
I opened my bedroom door
A white cat ran by
Startled by the clanging fall
Of the treat jar’s metal lid
http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/lessons/how-to-write-a-haiku/
Free Verse-No Rules Poetry!
Fog by Carl Sandburg
The fog comes
on little cat feet.
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.
http://www.poetry4kids.com/blog/news/how-to-write-a-free-verse-poem/
http://pbskids.org/arthur/games/poetry/free_verse.html
News Poem
Bring in several current event newspaper articles or find an online article
that that interests you. Look for good lines and end lines. (Keep the article
just in case you need to add extra letters like apostorphess, s, r ed.)s Arrange
the words and phrases to form a poem listening for sounds, rhythms, and
connections as you read it aloud. Don’t forget to add a title. You can also
find an online article and copy and paste phrases onto a document. The
finished poem should include the title, source and date of publication of the
original article.
ABC Poem
http://www.k12handhelds.com/data/samples/poetry/poetry_book.html#alpha
bet_head
Quatrain Poem
A quatrain is a four-line poem that rhymes. (“Quatro” means four in
Spanish.) Each line is about the same length. The rhyming pattern
may be that lines 1 and 2 rhyme and lines 3 and 4 rhyme. Or lines 1
and 3 and lines 2 and 4 may rhyme.
Here is a sample quatrain:
Swimming is a lot of fun
Hanging out all day in the sun
Splashing around in the pool
It’s the best way to stay cool
Poems for Two Voices
A poem for two voices is written for two people to perform. Often, it
is written in two columns with each person’s part in a column.
Here is a poem for two voices. Try reading it aloud with someone.
I love it when it rains
I can’t say the same
The raindrops and puddles,
such a wonder
What’s so great about
dark clouds and
thunder
Splashing about,
wearing raingear
Watching the lightening,
hiding in fear
I love to run around
and get all wet
I stay in doors and read a book
You should go really
go outside and play
I’m content in my room;
that’s where I’ll stay
I Am Poem Maker
http://ettcweb.lr.k12.nj.us/forms/iampoem.htm
Acrostic
An acrostic poem is a poem that is written around a word. The first
letter of each line spells out that word.
Here is an acrostic poem:
Buddies for life
Every day
Staying up late
Talking on the phone for hours
Forever pals
Rarely separated
I am here for you
Even when things are tough
No matter what happens
Dear friends we will remain
Siblings in spirit
Songs/ Ballads
Ballads are songs and poems that tell a story. They can be funny,
tragic, or even satirical, often tackling themes like love, work, and
death.
Casey at the Bat
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/174665
Cats in the Cradle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSwL9deXNW8
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/paul-reveres-ride
Glossary
accent pattern – the way in which certain words or syllables are
stressed or said more loudly or emphatically
acrostic poem – a poem that is written around a word, usually the
topic of the poem, such that the first letter of each line spells out that
word
alliteration &ndash the repetition of the first letter in several words
used to give writing a poetic sound; example: The cat was slinking
along in its slim, sleek manner
alphabet poem – has 26 lines, each beginning with a different letter
of the alphabet
catalog poem – a poem that consists of a list or itemization of things
or events
cinquain – a poem that has five lines and follows specific rules
including that the first line be one word that is the topic of the poem,
the second lines has two adjectives, the third line has three verbs, the
fourth line has four words that are a sentence or phrase, and the fifth
line has a single word that sums up the poem
concrete poem – a poem that is written in the physical shape of the
subject.
definition poem – a free verse poem that uses imagery to define
something
diamante – a poem that has seven lines as follows: line 1 has one
noun, line 2 has two adjectives, line 3 has three participles, line 4 has
four nouns, line 5 has three participles, line 6 has two adjectives, and
line 7 has one noun
figurative language – using metaphors and other words to mean
more than their literal meaning
free verse – poetry that has no regular rhythm or meter
haiku – an unrhymed poem that has three lines with 5, 7, and 5
syllables each; this type of poetry comes from Japan and the topic
often relates to nature
imagery – the use of figurative language to paint a vivid picture
limerick – a humorous poem that has five lines, with lines 1,2, and 5
have three feet (units of verse) and rhyme, and lines 3 and 4 have
two feet and rhyme
metaphor – a figure of speech that states two unlike things are the
same in a figurative way; example: She was the wind.
mood – emotions; feelings
onomatopoeia – the use of words that imitate or suggest a sound;
example: hiss, buzz
personification – a description of something that is not a person as
though it were a person; example: The stream made a happy, singing
sound through the forest
quatrain – a four-line verse or poem that rhymes
rhyme – words that end in the same sound but have a different
beginning sound; examples: cat/hat, toy/joy
rhythm – tempo or beat
setting – the time and place in which a story takes place
simile – a figure of speech comparing two unlike things; example:
She was as fast as the wind
stanza – a section of a poem with lines grouped together
tone – mood; quality or manner of expression