Fun With Poems!

Ms Blanco

Acrostic Poem

The first letter of each line aligns vertically to form a word

The word spelled vertically is often the subject of the poem

Does not have to rhyme

Example!

Makes the best chicken pot pie

Open heart and thoughtful mind

Mysterious blue eyes

Ballad

Could be a poem or a song

Tell a story – could be personal, from the news, history, etc.

This poem must rhyme – many different patterns to use

For example: AA, AABB, ABAB, & ABCD

Example!

“Ballad of the Gibbet”

“Brothers and men that shall after be us,

Let not your hearts be hard to us:

For pitying this our misery

Ye shall find God more piteous.”

-Francois Villon

What pattern do you see?

Haiku

Style originates from Japan

Themes include: nature and feelings

1st Line: 5 syllables

2nd Line: 7 syllables

3rd Line: 5 syllables

Does not need to rhyme

Example!

#1

In the twilight rain

These brilliant-hued hibiscus –

A lovely sunset

-Basho

#2

May this day be filled

With wonder and surprises,

But only good ones.

-Unknown

Limerick

Consists of 5 lines

The last words of lines 1,2, and 5 must rhyme

The last words of lines 3 and 4 must rhyme

Must have pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables…

Syllable Pattern

U S U U S U U S

U S U U S U U S

U S U U S

U S U U S

U S U U S U U S

Example!

There once was a young lady named bright

Whose speed was faster than light

She set out one day

In a relative way

And returned on the previous night.

-Anonymous