Mrs.

Brown’s Guide to

POETRY
Part I
Part I Poetry
• Haiku
• Tanka
• Cinquain
• Diamante
 Haiku

• Has three non-rhyming lines.

• First line has 5 syllables.
• Second line has 7 syllables.
• Third line has 5 syllables.
• Often about something beautiful in nature.
 Haiku

X X X X X
5 syllables Brisk spring and fall air
X X X X X X X
7 syllables New colors glance in my hair
X X X X X
5 syllables As I watch in awe.
 Haiku
Let’s try one together:

Title:

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables
 Tanka
• Has five lines.
• First line has 5 syllables.
• Second line has 7 syllables.
• Third line has 5 syllables.
• Fourth line has 7 syllables.
• Fifth line has 7 syllables.
• Uses similes, metaphors, & personification.
 Tanka

X X X X X
5 syllables Thunderclouds building
X X X X X X X
7 syllables Gathering strength as they grow
X X X X X
5 syllables Releasing themselves
X X X X X X X
7 syllables Pouring life-giving torrents
X X X X X X X
7 syllables Cleansing the world in shower
 Tanka
Let’s try one together:

Title:

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

7 syllables

7 syllables
 Cinquain
• Has five lines:
• Line 1: noun
• Line 2: two adjectives describing the noun
• Line 3: three verbs showing the actions of the
noun
• Line 4: a four-word phrase telling about the
noun
• Line 5: repetition of the noun or use of a
synonym for the noun
 Cinquain

noun Sneakers
2 adjectives White, squeaky
3 verbs Running, jumping, skipping
4-word phrase They cover my feet
synonym for noun Nike
 Cinquain
Let’s try one together:

noun

2 adjectives

3 verbs

4-word phrase

synonym for noun

 Diamante

• Diamond-shaped poem with 7 lines:

• Line 1: 1 NOUN-A
• Line 2: 2 ADJECTIVES-A
• Line 3: 3 GERUNDS-A (verb + -ing)
• Line 4: 2 NOUNS-A + 2 NOUNS-B
• Line 5: 3 GERUNDS-B (verb + -ing)
• Line 6: 2 ADJECTIVES-B
• Line 7: 1 NOUN-B
 Diamante

1 noun A Winter
2 adjectives A Rainy, cold
3 verbs + -ing A Skiing, skating, sledding
2 nouns A + 2 nouns B
Mountains, wind, breeze, ocean
3 verbs + -ing B Swimming, surfing, scuba diving
2 adjectives B Sunny, hot
1 noun B Summer
 Diamante
Let’s try one together:
Title:
1 noun A

2 adjectives A

3 verbs + -ing A

2 nouns A + 2 nouns B

3 verbs + -ing B

2 adjectives B

1 noun B
Mrs. Brown’s Guide to

POETRY
Part II
Part II Poetry
• Bio Poem
• Simile Poem
• ABC Poem
• Limerick
 Bio Poem

• Bio poetry gives basic information about a

person in a poetic form.
• Bio is short for biography which is a story
written about a person’s life.
 Bio Poem
•Line 1: Your first name only
•Line 2: Four traits that describe you (adjectives)
•Line 3: Wishes to…
•Line 4: Dreams of…
•Line 5: Wants to…
•Line 6: Who wonders…
•Line 7: Who fears…
•Line 8: Who likes…
•Line 9: Who loves…
•Line 10: Who wants to see… (3 things)
•Line 11: Who resides in… (name of your city)
•Line 10: Your last name only
 Bio Poem
•Dana
•Woman, Teacher, Mother, Happy
•Wishes to see Oprah
•Dreams of winning the lottery
•Wants to travel
•Who wonders what her children will do when they get older
•Who fears roller coasters
•Who likes scrapbooking
•Who wants to see Washington D.C., sunset in the West, the World!
•Who resides in Portland
•Brown
 Simile Poem

• Uses the word “as” to make a comparison with

the subject.
• A statement then follows.
 Simile Poem
Summer is as hot as a cauldron
with boiling water.
comparison

statement

Hurricanes are as destructive and

angry as a mother tiger
when it’s lost its baby.
 Simile Poem
Let’s try some together:

comparison

statement
 ABC Poem

• Don’t always make good sense

• May be fun but challenging

• Start with A and go through the alphabet

writing a word for each letter
 ABC Poem
A Kitten Questioned
Bad Littles Raccoons
Cat Make Sing
Did Noises Tunes
Eat On Under
Falling Pianos. Vents
Goat With
Hairs Xtra
In Jamaica. Yelling
“Zunes”!
 Limerick

• Five line poem

• Funny or nonsensical
• First line often begins with
– “There once was…”
 Limerick

Rhymes with 2 There once was a sweet little frog

What happens? Who lived by himself on a log.
2 short He saw a fat fly,
snappy lines
And he said, “Oh my!
How it ended?
I think I’ll go out for a jog.”
Rhymes with 1
&2
 Limerick

Rhymes with 2 There once was a farmer from Maine

What happens? Whose cow was in terrible pain
2 short He went to the vet
snappy lines
To care for his pet
How it ended?
But then he got caught in the rain.
Rhymes with 1
&2
 Limerick

Rhymes with 2 There once was a puppy named Prince,

What happens? Who guarded his owner’s back fence
2 short He barked at the man
snappy lines
Who picked up the can
How it ended?
Stealing garbage just didn’t make sense!
Rhymes with 1
&2
 Limerick
Let’s try on together:
Usually begins with
“There once was…”
Rhymes with 2 1-
What happens? 2-
Rhymes with 1
2 short 3-
snappy lines
3 & 4 rhyme 4-
How it ended?
5-
Rhymes with 1
&2