Poetry Unit
You are assigned with the task of creating your own book of
poetry. This package will teach you how to write a variety of
poems.
Your book must contain (at a minimum):








8 of your own poems
5 different types of poems
a table of contents (lists all poem titles and page
numbers)
two images
one poem you liked by a published poet
designed front cover
Bonus Marks if you add:
a simile (uses the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to describe
something. Example: Your love is like a red, red, rose.
Or, He was as quick as a fox.)
a metaphor (makes a comparison between objects.
Example: He is a beast when he plays sports. Or, she is
a shining star.)
I Am Poem
Diamond Poem
This is a great poem to write to introduce yourself
to your readers. Be honest in your responses to
the prompts.
How to write it (just complete the end of the
prompt):
I
I
I
I
I
I
am (two special characteristics about you)
wonder (something you are actually curious about)
hear
see
want
am (repeat the first line of the poem)
I
I
I
I
I
I
pretend
feel
touch
worry
cry
am (repeat the first line of the poem)
I
I
I
I
I
I
understand (something you know is true)
say
dream
try
hope
am (repeat the first line of the poem)
Nouns: person, place, thing
Adjectives: words describing a noun
Verbs: actions
How to make the poem:
Line 1 – a one word noun
Line 2 – 2 adjectives that describe the noun
Line 3 – 3 verbs that the noun does
Line 4 – 4 things (nouns) that the top noun and bottom noun
have in common
Line 5 – 3 verbs that the bottom noun does
Line 6 – 2 adjectives that describe the bottom noun
Line 7 – a one word noun that is opposite of the top noun
Example (creates a diamond shape):
cat
furry, silky
sleeping, purring, meowing
tail, fur, tongue, collar
barking, playing, licking
friendly, big
dog
Haiku
5 W Poem
This poem tells a very short story in
one sentence.
How to make it:
Line 1 – 5 syllables
Line 2 – 7 syllables
Line 3 – 5 syllables
Example:
The Rose
The rose blossom bends
And drips its dew to the ground.
Like a tear it falls.
By Donna Brock
How to Write It:
Line 1: Who
Line 2: What
Line 3: Where
Line 4: When
Line 5: Why
Example:
Samantha,
rode her bicycle,
to the store,
after dinner,
because she wanted to buy some
candy.
5 Senses Poetry
Write a poem inspired by one of the 5 senses. This poem
can be any number of lines and syllables. It can rhyme,
but it does not have to rhyme. Every line should relate to
the sense you chose.
A poem inspired by taste
Or
A poem inspired by sound
Or
A poem inspired by touch
Or
A poem inspired by sight
Or
A poem inspired by smell
What I Learned This Summer
This poem states 5 things you learned about life. Your statements may
be funny or insightful. Each statement creates a new stanza
(paragraph) for the poem. You can break up your sentences into multiple
lines to add dramatic effect.
Example:
What I Learned This Summer
By Amanda Yarrow
A couch always
seems more comfortable when
you’re tired.
Food always tastes better
when somebody else owns it.
Example:
Being alone is a lonely feeling.
Beans!
Beans!
The musical fruit.
The more you eat,
The more you toot.
The more you toot,
The better you feel,
So eat your beans with every meal.
Animals
are always more
loving when you have
food.
Impatient people can never
seem to catch
a butterfly.
Cinquin (pronounced sin-cane)
Concrete Poetry
This is a visual representation in words. You can
represent simple pictures such as football, steps,
shaky, stretch, or flag. Or you can represent
expressions such as a broken heart, time flies,
raining cats and dogs, or money to burn.
An unrhymed form of poetry that is often sad. Each line has a set number
of syllables. A syllable is the beat in a word (‘go’ has 1 syllable, ‘button’
has 2 syllables, ‘history’ has 3 syllables).
How to write it:
Example:
cloud cloud cloud
cloud cloud
cloud fluffy cloud cloud
soft cloud
cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud cloud
cloud cloud cloud white cloud cloud cloud cloud
cloud cloud cloud cloud grey cloud cloud cloudy
cloud
billowy cloud cloud cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud cloud
Example:
Neon Lights
are Shining
Line 1 – topic (2 syllables)
Line 2 – describe topic (4 syllables)
Line 3 – express an action (6 syllables)
Line 4 – express a feeling (8 syllables)
Line 5 – synonym (a word that means the same thing) for the topic (2
syllables)
Example:
Creature
From outer space
What ship carried you here?
Are you in search of peace or war?
Stranger
ABAB Poem
In this poem the last word of every other line
rhymes. This poem can be about any topic.
It has at least 4 lines and always has an even
number of lines.
Example:
Roses are red
Violets are blue
Soon we will wed
What will we do?
Bio Poem
Imagine you are a character from a famous
story or movie. Write a poem to describe
that character’s thoughts and emotions.
You might know some information about the
character, but you might have to make some
information up too.
How to Write It:
Line 1 – First name of character
Line 2 – Four descriptive traits
Line 3 – Sibling of…
Line 4 – Lover of…
Line 5 – Who fears…
Line 6 – Who needs…
Line 7 – Who gives…
Line 8 – Who would like to see…
Line 9 – Resident of…
Line 10 – Last name of character
Example:
Tom
Tall, tasty, feathery, viscious,
Sibling of Clucky Chicken and Big Bird,
Lover of vegetarians and ham eaters,
Fears Mr. Butterball and pilgrims,
Needs to run around,
Gives nourishment and leftovers,
Would like to see birds unite and revolt,
Resident of Old MacDonald’s Farm,
Turkey.