Exploring Haiku, Acrostic, Concrete, Limerick, Cinquain Poetry

1. Poetry 6th Grade Mrs. Tatum

2. Haiku • Haiku poetry is a very short, centuries-old form of Japanese poetry that is an intriguing change of pace from the kind of rhythmic, rhyming poetry you're used to reading. Haiku is like a photo that captures the essence of what's happening, often connecting two seemingly unrelated things.

3. How to Write a Haiku • Traditional Japanese haiku had a total of seventeen syllables divided into three clumps (or lines): • five syllablesseven syllablesfive syllables

4. What Do I Write About? • A haiku has 17 syllables divided among three lines.   • Express a single mood or emotion in your haiku.   • The classic haiku theme is nature, so try using nature-based imagery as well as your own themes when you write a haiku.  

5. Example of a Haiku Morning Sun Dances? When the gentle rain greets dawn? With a lovely sigh? On a withered bough A crow along is perching Autumn evening now.

6. Acrostic Acrostic:  a poem in which special letters spell another word or make a sentence.

7. Acrostic Information • Most often,the special letters come at the beginning of each line.But they may be placed elsewhere, too. • Alphabet poems are also a special type of acrostic,called abecdearian acrostics.

8. Example Panthers growl,Orioles sing, Eagles soar, Monkeys swing. See? 

9. Concrete Poems • Concrete poetry—sometimes also called ‘shape poetry’—is poetry whose visual appearance matches the topic of the poem. The words form shapes which illustrate the poem’s subject as a picture, as well as through their literal meaning.

10. Concrete Poetry Example

11. Limerick • A limerick is a silly poem with five lines.  They are often funny or nonsensical.  Limericks were made famous by Edward Lear, a famous author who wrote the "Book of Nonsense" in the 1800's. 

12. Limerick Rhyme Scheme • The rhyme scheme of a limerick is known as “AABBA.” This is because the last words in lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme. Those are the “A’s” in the rhyme scheme. The “B’s” are the last words of lines 3 and 4.

13. The Rules of Limericks • They are five lines long. • Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme with one another. • Lines 3 and 4 rhyme with each other. • They have a distinctive rhythm (which I’ll explain shortly) • They are usually funny.

14. Limerick Example • There was a young fellow named HallWho fell in the spring in the fall.‘Twould have been a sad thingHad he died in the spring,But he didn’t—he died in the fall.

15. Cinquain Poetry • What’s a Cinquain poem? It is a form of poetry, written like a recipe. A Cinquain is a five-line poem. The words you choose and the form they take on paper are an important part of the writing. Some people say they appear like diamonds on paper.

16. Creating a Cinquain

17. Cinquain Example Lion Golden, strong Staring, creeping, pouncing A hunter on the prowl Predator

18. What Is an Image? An image is a word or phrase that appeals to one of our senses. Images can help us • create a mental picture • hear a sound • feel texture or temperature • taste a sweet, sour, or salty flavor

19. What Is an Image? Listen to this excerpt of “The Shell” by James Stephens and imagine the scene he describes. And straightway like a bellCame low and clearThe slow, sad murmur of the distant seas, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And in the hush of waters was the soundOf pebbles rolling round,For ever rolling with a hollow sound. And bubbling sea-weeds as the waters goSwish to and froTheir long, cold tentacles of slimy grey. —from “The Shell” by James Stephens

20. What Is an Image? Quick Check Which words appeal to the sense of hearing? sight? touch? And straightway like a bellCame low and clearThe slow, sad murmur of the distant seas, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And in the hush of waters was the soundOf pebbles rolling round,For ever rolling with a hollow sound. And bubbling sea-weeds as the waters goSwish to and froTheir long, cold tentacles of slimy grey. —from “The Shell” by James Stephens [End of Section]

21. Imagery in Poetry • Poets use imagery to • speak to our deepest feelings—joy, sorrow, wonder, love • emphasize certain qualities of the subject • create a mood Out on the land White Moon shines.Shines and glimmers against gnarled shadows,All silver to slow twisted shadowsFalling across the long road that runs from the house. —from “Baby Face” by Carl Sandburg

22. Imagery in Poetry • Imagery is • part of a poet’s style • a product of the poet’s own way of seeing the world • a reflection of the time and place in which the poet lives

23. Imagery in Poetry Quick Check What mood does the poet create through his use of imagery? The Loon by Lew Sarett A lonely lake, a lonely shore, A lone pine leaning on the moon; All night the water-beating wings Of a solitary loon. With mournful wail from dusk to dawn He gibbered at the taunting stars,— A hermit-soul gone raving mad, And beating at his bars. How does the imagery affect your emotions? Explain. [End of Section]

24. Practice Images can be drawn from all sorts of things we observe in life. For each category, create two images—one pleasant and one unpleasant. Try to include images that appeal to all five senses.

25. Free verse • FREE VERSE is a kind of poetry that has no real rhythm or pattern, so you can put words together in all sorts of ways. You can be VERY imaginative!

26. What is Free verse poetry? • Anything and everything can be the topic of a  free verse lyrical poem. The poem can tell a story, describe a person, animal, feeling or object.  They can serious, sad, funny or  educational.  What ever subject that appeals to the poet can end up in free verse.

27. How to write Free verse • Free verse does not have a set pattern of rhyme or rhythm.  There are no rules about line length in free verse. You try to keep the words that belong together on the same line, but, sometimes the poet will break these words if he/she wants to create a visual shape to support the poem's message, or feeling that the poet wishes the reader to experience. 

28. Example of Free Verse Fog by Carl Sandburg The fog comes on little cat feet.  It sits looking over harbor and city on silent haunches and then moves on.