Poetry

Poetry

There are many different types of poems. Some poems rhyme; some do not. Some are only a few words long, while others go on for several pages! Sometimes poems are even written in special shapes or designs. We do not have time to look at all the different kinds of poems, but we will discuss the following kinds:

*Couplet- a pair (two) of lines that rhyme. Couplets can be joined to form a longer poem

*Quatrain- a four-line poem. It can have different rhyme patterns. Quatrains are often combined to form a long poem.

*Haiku- an unrhymed poem that has three lines and 17 syllables (5-7-5 syllable pattern) usually describing something in nature.

*Limerick- a humorous five-lined poem. It has 13 beats and an aabba rhyme pattern.

*Cinquain- an unrhymed, five-line poem. Each line has a certain number of words and function.

*Diamante- an unrhymed, seven-line poem. Each line has a certain number of words and function. It is similar to a cinquain.

*Biopoem- an unrhymed, ten-line poem that describes a person. Many of the lines start off scripted.

Poetry terms that will help you:*Line- a row of words in a poem. A line

does not have to be a complete sentence.*Stanza- a group of lines in poetry that are

arranged in a particular pattern. A stanza can form one part of a poem or song.

*Beat- The basic unit of time in poetry or music.

The Road Not TakenBy: Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,And sorry I could not travel bothAnd be one traveler, long I stoodAnd looked down one as far as I couldTo where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,And having perhaps the better claim,Because it was grassy and wanted wear;Though as for that the passing thereHad worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally layIn leaves no step had trodden black.Oh, I kept the first for another day!Yet knowing how way leads on to way,I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sighSomewhere ages and ages hence:Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-I took the one less traveled by,And that has made all the difference.

Line

Stanza

CoupletA couplet is a pair (two) of linesthat rhyme. Couplets can be joined to form a longer poem.

“I cannot go to school today,”Said little Peggy Ann McKay.“I have the measles and the mumps,A gash, a rash and purple bumps.My mouth is wet, my throat is dry, I’m going blind in my right eye.My tonsils are as big as rocks,I’ve counted sixteen chicken poxAnd there’ one more—that’s seventeen,And don’t you think my face looks green?My leg is cut, my eyes are blue—It might be instamatic flu.I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,I’m sure that my left leg is broke—

SickBy Shel Silverstein

Couplet

My hip hurts when I move my chin,My belly button’s caving in,My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.My nose is cold, my toes are numb,I have a sliver in my thumb.My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,I hardly whisper when I speak.My tongue is filling up my mouth,I think my hair is falling out.My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,My temperature is one-o-eight.My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,There is a hole inside my ear.I have a hangnail, and my heart is – what?What’s that? What’s that you say?You say today is…Saturday?G’bye, I’m going out to play!”

Sick (Continued)

By Shel Silverstein

CoupletSpring Showers

By Mr. Runkle

Showers, showers, springtime showers;Sprouting bulbs and blooming flowers.Raising creeks up to their crest;Blowing in hard from the west.In the puddles children play.“Watch your step,” their mothers say.Soaking lawns and making mud;Watch out soon, we’ll have a flood!Raincoats on, umbrellas out;Spring in here without a doubt.

QuatrainA quatrain is a four-lined poem.It can have different rhyme patterns. Quatrains are oftencombined to form longer poems.

The Sociable Weaversby Eileen Spinelli

Using grass and leaves and twigs,weaverbirds build fancy digs—a common roof, with knots and lacestied to separate condo spaces.

Weaverbirds are generous, kind.For instance, they don’t seem to mindif parrot, favoring the view,occupies a room or two.

QuatrainA Song of Spring

By Mr. Runkle

I heard a song sung today,Carried through the air.A robin sung it, oh so fair,Declaring spring is on its way.

An Absent-Minded SquirrelBy Mr. Runkle

I saw a squirrel climb up a tree,His nut he could not find.He wondered where it could possibly be,He must be loosing his mind!

QuatrainSmart

By Shel Silverstein

My dad gave me one dollar bill‘Cause I’m his smartest son,And I swapped it for two shiny quarters‘Cause two is more than one!

And then I took the quartersAnd traded them to LouFor three dimes—I guess he don’t knowThat three is more than two!

Just then, along came old blind BatesAnd just ‘cause he can’t seeHe gave me four nickels for my three dimes,And four is more than three!

Smart( continued)

By Shel Silverstein

And I took the nickels to Hiram CoombsDown at the seed-feed store,And the fool gave me five pennies for them,And five is more than four!

And then I went and showed my dad,And he got red in the cheeksAnd closed his eyes and shook his head---Too proud of me to speak!

Quatrain

HaikuA haiku is a traditional Japanesepoem. It is an unrhymed poemthat has three lines and 17 syllables (5-7-5 syllable pattern).

A wonderful toolfor learning and for pleasure;a book always works.

57

5

Haiku

A sharpened pencil-ready to record my thoughtsfrom hand to paper.

Who’s there in the dark?Scaring me like that! It’s you,imagination.

LimerickA limerick is a humorous five-lined poem. It has 13 beats and an aabba rhyme pattern.Lines 1, 2, & 5 have three beatseach, while lines 3 & 4 have two beats each.

There once was a boy named Brad,Who always looked very sad.Until one day,His friend did say,“Why don’t you smile just a tad?”

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aabba

Beats Rhyme PatternSad Brad

LimerickThe Playing Fish

There once was a fish in a lake,In playing games he tried to partake.But he had no hand,And he could not stand,So a good player he did not make.

Mr. Runkle’s Class

Mr. Runkle had a good class,In knowledge they were trying to amass,But some wouldn’t try,And that made him cry,Because those he just couldn’t pass.

CinquainA cinquain is an unrhymed poem made up of five lines. Each line of the poem has specific rules. Line 1- one word that names a subjectLine 2- two words that describe the subjectLine 3- three verbs that describe actions related to the subjectLine 4- four words that express a feeling about the subjectLine 5- one word that refers to or is a synonym for the subject

CinquainLine 1- one word that names a subjectLine 2- two words that describe the subjectLine 3- three verbs that describe actions related to the subjectLine 4- four words that express a feeling about the subjectLine 5- one word that refers to or is a synonym for the subject

StudentsInquisitive, thoughtful

Reading, writing, thinkingWorking hard to succeed

Pupils

DiamanteA diamante is an unrhymed,seven-lined poem. Each linehas a certain number of wordsand purpose. The text forms the shape of a diamond.

Line 1- Noun or subject- one wordLine 2- Two adjectives that describe line 1Line 3- Three ‘ing words that describe line 1Line 4- Four nouns- the first two are connected with line 1; the last two are connected with line 7Line 5- Three ‘ing words that describe line 7Line 6- Two adjectives that describe line 7Line 7- Noun synonym for the subject (line 1)

DiamanteLine 1- Noun or subject- one wordLine 2- Two adjectives that describe line 1Line 3- Three ‘ing words that describe line 1Line 4- Four nouns- the first two are connected with line 1; the last two are connected with line 7Line 5- Three ‘ing words that describe line 7Line 6- Two adjectives that describe line 7Line 7- Noun synonym for the subject (line 1)

AntsTiny, busy

Running, building, diggingPicnics, crumbs, garbage, swatter

Flying, buzzing, bitingAnnoying, hairy

Flies

BiopoemAn unrhymed, ten-lined poemthat describes a person. Manyof the lines start off scripted.

Name4 adjectives describing the person

Related to ________________________________Who cares deeply about _____________________Who feels _________________________________Who needs _______________________________Who gives ________________________________

Who fears ______________________________Who would like to see _____________________Resident of ____________________________.

TamanendCaring, honest, fair, brave

Related to other Lenni Lenape IndiansWho cares deeply about liberty and peace

Who feels like everyone should be treated fairlyWho needs the help of others

Who gives hope to peopleWho fears a war between Europeans and Native Americans

Who would like to see a good relationship between the Lenapes and colonistsResident of eastern Pennsylvania.