Popular FORMS OF POETRy
See Lindsay for more examples of each form
Couplet
A Couplet is a two-line poem. The last word of the first line rhymes with the last
word of the second line. Couplets can be grouped together to form longer poems.
Example:
Book
Wisdom for each interest and age,
Just open a book and turn the page.
Triplet
A Triplet is a three-line poem. The last word of the first lines rhymes with the last
word in the other two lines. Also, if the three lines are written so they can be read in
any order, the poem can be put in a triangle. When a triplet is placed in the form of
a triangle it is called a Triangular Triplet.
Example:
School
School is the place we learn and grow.
It’s where we build on what we know.
All of our talents we can show.
Quatrian
A quatrian has four lines and can have a variety of rhyme patterns:
 An aabb pattern is formed when the last word of line one rhymes with the last
word of line two and the last word of line three rhymes with the last word of
line four.
 An abab pattern means that the last word of line one rhymes with the last
word of line three and the last word of line two rhymes with the last word of
line four.
 An abca abd abcb pattern is also common
 An aaaa pattern means the last word of each line rhymes with the last word of
the other three lines.
Like couplets, quatrains are often joined together to form longer poems.
Example:
Writing Poetry
Poetry can be fun to write,
But it’s hard to get the words just right.
When I get stuck, I rest for a while,
Then I come back, and my words have STYLE!
NOTE: Similar to a Quatrian is a Quintain poem, which is similar but has five
lines instead of four in each stanza
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Limerick
The Limerick is a five-line poem. It follows an aabba pattern:
 The last word of the first line rhymes with the last word of lines two and five.
 The last words of lines three and four rhyme.
Lines three and four are usually shorter than lines one, two, and five.
Example:
Spelling
There was once a student who wrote well,
But alas he found he could not spell.
He learned words for the test,
He tried to do his best.
And soon three of his works he did sell.
Cinquain
A Cinquain (pronounced sin-cane) is a five-line poem that does not have rhyming
words. A cinquain follows this form:
Line 1: one word (the title)
Line 2: two words (describe the title)
Line 3: three words (an action)
Line 4: four words (a feeling)
Line 5: one word (refers to the title)
Example:
Magazines
Always current
Look very enticing
Bring pleasure to readers
Periodicals
Diamante
A diamante poem is a seven-line poem shaped like a diamond. It starts with one
person, place, thing, or idea and ends up with something completely opposite. A
diamante poem follows this form:
Line 1: noun
Line 2: two adjectives
Line 3: three ing words
Line 4: four nouns
Line 5: three ing words
Line 6: two adjectives
Line 7: one noun (opposite of the noun in Line 1)
Student
Young, eager
learning, doing, becoming
dreamer, learner, facilitator, helper
guiding, assisting, prodding
wise, patient
Teacher
Haiku
A Haiku poem has three lines with a total of seventeen syllables. Haiku comes from
Japan and is often about nature, but can be on any subject. Haiku follows this
pattern:
Line 1: five syllables
Line 2: seven syllables
Line 3: five syllables
Example:
Poems
They’re shorter than prose
Often have rhythm or rhyme,
And every word counts.
Tanka
Tanka is similar to haiku. It comes from Japan and is often about nature, but tanka
is longer than haiku. It has five lines with a total of thirty-one syllables. Tanka
follows this pattern:
Line 1: five syllables
Line 2: seven syllables
Line 3: five syllables
Line 4: seven syllables
Line 5: seven syllables
Example :
Writing
Expressing our thoughts
Saying who we are and why
Sharing with others
Our innermost hopes and frears
Hoping they will understand
Lanterne
A lanterne poem is written in the shape of a Japanese latern. It has five lines and
eleven syllables in total. It follows this pattern:
Line 1: one syllable
Line 2: two syllables
Line 3: three syllables
Line 4: four syllables
Line 5: one syllable
Example:
Books
Our friends
Great to have
Get to know them
Neat
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Acrostic
Each line of an Acrostic poem starts with one letter from the poem’s title. The title is
written down the left side of the paper. Each letter of the title then becomes the first
letter of the first word written on that line.
Example:
Sometimes doesn’t work
Often upgraded
Formats may vary
Time to learn!
Words leap off the screen
Animations are cool
Really neat sounds
Exciting when it works right
Septone
In a septone poem, a phone number is written down the left side of the paper leaving
a space between the third and fourth numerals. The numerals tell how many
syllables will go on each line. A zero means ten syllables will go on the line.
Example:
Literature
8 - Exciting events recounted well
0- Beauty in words so carefully chosen
0- Causes wonderment in every reader
3- Mark that page
6- Come back to its quiet thoughts
9- Covering the page with gracefulness
6283-
Makes us feel like we’re there
Reading
A good book enriches our lives
Forever
List Poem
A list poem is made up of items that belong in a certain category. To write a list
poem, start with a title (such as “Things to Do at the Mall”) and list all the things you
can think of that would fit into that category.
Example:
Things to Read About
Who discovered penicillin?
What is the best way to make bread?
Where is sugar cane grown?
When does our state elect a governor?
Why do interest rates change?
How can people live together in peace?
Parallel Poem
In a parallel poem, each line starts with the same words. Choose the words you
want to use (like “Happiness Is” or “I Wish”) and start each line with those words.
Example:
My Friend
My friend is kind
My friend is caring
My friend is helpful
My friend is patient
My friend is considerate
My friend is thoughtful
My friend is special
Free Verse
Free verse does not follow any special pattern or form. It does not have to rhyme
and it can have any number of lines. Free verse is similar to prose except that it
uses fewer words and has more rhythm.
Example:
The Library
The library is full of treasures,
Its contents entertain and inform.
Nothing compares to their value,
And their use is all free.
Prose
Prose is characterized by rhythmic repetition; compression of thought; sustained
intensity and patterned structure but is set on the page in a continuous sequence of
sentences as in prose without line breaks.
Example:
Leadership
Leadership is all about style, the manner and approach. Good leaders are goodnatured, polite, and know how to coach. They direct, implement the plan and know
the workers’ plight so subordinates are motivated to succeed with all their might.
Do you know the names of leaders you admire and hope some day that you would
dress in similar attire? Could it be any one of these, your mother, your dad, your
principal, or some other? What personality traits do you find in the leader of your
choice? Could it be the winning smile and tone of voice? Could it be someone who
communicates with an occasional shout or yell but nevertheless, does get the jobs
done very well? Do you like a leader who acts so very cool, non-interference in the
affairs of others is the popular tool; but then, could it be that you rather a leader who
is versatile and wears three hats with a feather, likes to smile mixes the autocratic,
democratic, and laissez faire style? Such reverent power and behaviour workers
bound to know that is no guile. Good leaders develop their thoughts, a never-ending
process and that is why they acquire the fame and their success. So, good leaders
are made and not born and would welcome a challenge any day even if they have to
hold it with their bare fingers hot roasted corn on the cob.
(Barbados/2002)