Types of Poems

Format of a Limerick

• A five line poem with a rhyme scheme of aabba.

• Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme with each other, and lines 3 and 4 rhyme with each other.

Limerick Example

There was a young boy from Caboo, (a)Who had trouble tying his shoe. (a)He said to his ox, (b)"I'll just walk in my socks." (b)Now all of his friends do that, too! (a)

Couplet

• A two line poem where the two lines rhyme.

• Example:Hey diddle, diddle,The cat and the fiddle

Alliteration Poem

• A Two-Word Name – Big Bobby• An Action – bought • An Adjective – brown • An Item – bears

Example: • Big Bobby bought brown bears.• Brown bears Big Bobby bought.• If Big Bobby bought brown bears,• How many brown bears did Big Bobby buy?

The Feeling Poem Format

Line one: Name an emotionLine two: “Smells like. . .”

Line three: “Tastes like. . .”Line four: “Sounds like. . .”Line five: “Feels like. . . .”Line six: “Feels like. . .”

Line seven: “Feels like. . .”Line eight: Name the emotion

The Feeling Poem Example

FearSmells like the skin of burnt marshmallows, smells like

burning hair,Tastes like chalk and Robitussin and vinegar,

Sounds like thunder one-one-thousand-BOOM away,Feels like numbed cold fingers,

Feels like pressure inside my lungs,Feels like my body’s not my body, make my body

disappear,Fear

Haiku Format

• A three line poem

– 1st and 3rd lines contain exactly five syllables

– 2nd line contains exactly seven syllables

• Usually about nature

• Free verse (does not rhyme)

Haiku Examples

Silent fog creepingOut of the October night

Smothering the world

The glistening seaGlowing moon in the night sky

Reflects on water

Diamante

• Poems that begin with one subject and end with another, totally different or opposite subject (7 lines total)

Diamante Format

Line 1: A noun (Subject 1)Line 2: Two adjectives describing subject 1Line 3: Three –ing words about subject 1Line 4: Four nouns: two related to subject

1 and two related to subject 2

Line 5: Three –ing words telling about subject 2

Line 6: Two adjectives describing subject 2Line 7: A noun (Subject 2)

Cat/DogDay/NightUp/DownLife/DeathVampire/ZombieCold/HotSpring/FallSmart/DumbBoy/GirlSun/Rain

Diamante Examples

BabyCuddly, helpless

Crawling, crying, playingPlaypen, blocks, family, career

Working, laughing, drivingConfident, independent

Adult

Student – Teacher Diamante

StudentSmart, thinker

Learning, studying, workingSchool, bus, car, office

Helping, teaching, laughingSmart, awesome

Teacher

Student – Teacher Example

StudentYoung, reckless

Complaining, texting, hard-workingSchool, detention, boss, adult

Boring, aging, teachingSmart, cool

Teacher

Opposites

• Cat/Dog• Day/Night• Up/Down• Life/Death• Vampire/Zombie• Cold/Hot• Spring/Fall• Smart/Dumb• Boy/Girl

Acrostic Poem• Uses the letters of a

topic word as the first letter for each line of the poem.

• Each line includes words and phrases related to the topic.

• Usually does not rhyme

Sensory Poems

• Poems that use words related to sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to provide specific images for the reader.

Sensory Poems ExampleFresh-Baked Bread

I watched hungrily as my mother opens the ovenTo check the progress of the bread.My eyes devour the lightly browned crust.The mouthwatering aroma drifts across the kitchen.The delicious fragrance sneaks silentlyPast my nose into my brain.My tongue searches for a taste.My empty stomach shouts,“Eat! Eat! Eat!”Mother says, “A few more minutes.”

Cinquain Format

• A cinquain is a five-line poem that does not rhyme.

Line 1: A nounLine 2: Two adjectives to describe the nounLine 3: Three action words ending in -ingLine 4: A short statement about the topicLine 5: A noun that is a synonym for line 1

Cinquain Example

MemoriesPhotographsOld, faded,Cracking, curling, yellowingReminders of the pastMemories

Concrete Poem

• Poetry that forms the shape of its subject or theme

• Example:

Narrative Poem• A narrative poem tells a story.• They can be long or short.• Some narrative poems use end rhyme, some do not.

• Example:The Greedy Dog

There once was a dog filled with greedWho wanted much more than he’s need.

When he saw his reflectionUpon further inspection

He ended with nothing, indeed.

A Change Poem

• A change poem chronicles the change process of a being or concept.

• It is usually one sentence written one word on each line.

• The poem has a surprising change at the end to complete the form.

Change Poem ExampleDairy

Thefarmer

squeezedthemilkoutof

thecowintomy

cup.

Concrete Poems

• Concrete poems form the shape of its subject.

• Example: