Types of poems
Characterization poem version 1
Format
Line 1: Your character’s first name
Line 2: Four personality traits that describe
him/her
Line 3: Sibling of...
Line 4: Who likes...(3 things)
Line 5: Who feels... (3 things)
Line 6: Who needs... (3 things)
Line 7: Who gives... (3 things)
Line 8: Who fears... (3 things)
Line 9: Who would like to see... (3 things)
Line 10: Resident of (where he/she lives)
Line 11: Character’s last name (or occupation
if no last name is given)
Characterization poem version 2
Format
Title = Character’s Name
I am (two special characteristics your
protagonist has)
I wonder (something he/she is actually
curious about)
I hear (an imaginary sound)
I see (an imaginary sight)
I want (an actual desire)
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)
I pretend (something he/she might actually
pretend to do)
I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)
I touch (an imaginary touch)
I worry (something that really bothers
him/her)
I cry (something that makes him/her very
sad)
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)
I understand (something he/she knows is
true)
I say (something he/she believes in)
I dream (something he/she actually dreams
about)
I try (something he/she really makes an effort
about)
I hope (something he/she actually hopes for)
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)
Example
Kino
Brave, caring, protective, greedy
Sibling of Juan Tomas
Who likes pearl diving, education, and family
Who feels love from his family, attacked by others, and desperate to
change his life
Who needs a trustworthy town, support from his family, and money
to survive.
Who gives all he has for a better life, the life of his son out of greed,
the pearl back to the ocean
Who fears the doctor, the townspeople, himself
Who would like to see his family be prosperous, an education for
Coyotito, and a marriage for Juana and himself
Resident of La Paz
Example (this example is not filled in. It just gives the outline
again)
Kino
I am
I wonder
I hear
I see
I want
I am
I pretend
I feel
I touch
I worry
I cry
I am
I understand
I say
I dream
I try
I hope
I am
Cinquain (2)
Format
A cinquain consists of five unrhymed lines.
Each line has a set number of syllables see below:
Line 1: 2 syllables
Line 2: 4 syllables
Line 3: 6 syllables
Line 4: 8 syllables
Line 5: 2 syllables
Haiku (2)
Format
A Haiku consists of 3 lines and 17 syllables.
Each line has a set number of syllables see below:
Example
My mum (2 syllables)
Is so caring (4 syllables)
She is always helpful (6 syllables)
She is so beautiful and kind (8 syllables)
Love you. (2 syllables)
Example
The sky is so blue. (5 syllables)
The sun is so warm up high. (7 syllables)
I love the summer. (5 syllables)
Line 1 – 5 syllables
Line 2 – 7 syllables
Line 3 – 5 syllables
Color
Choose a color to focus on. Then use the questions below to help you come up with ideas for this poem.
1. What things look ______________ (your color)
5. What makes you feel _____?
2. What things sound________
6. What things taste ______?
3. What things smell _______
7. What ideas or experiences seem____?
4. How does _____ feel?
8. Can you think of ____ places?
You’re not limited to these idea and you don’t have to use all of the questions.
See examples from previous students in class.
Acrostic (3)
Format
-Write a word or phrase vertically.
-Then, write phrases or complete sentences off of each
letter. DO NOT SIMPLY WRITE ONE WORD OF
EACH LETTER (that does not show much effort)
-Does not necessarily have to flow together like the
example but it could.
-All ideas in the poem must relate back to or be about
the vertical word you chose
Ode
Format
An Ode is a lyric poem, usually addressing a particular
person or thing. It originated in Ancient Greece.
-Praises or compliments a particular subject.
-Can be free verse or structured.
Example
An acrostic poem
Creates a challenge
Random words on a theme
Or whole sentences that rhyme
Select your words carefully
To form a word from top to bottom
Is the aim of this poetry style
Choose a word then go!
Example
Oh Olive,
You are as precious to me as any gem,
With your beautiful, pure skin as smooth as silk
And as green as the grass in summertime.
I love your taste and the smell of your tender fruit
Which hides beneath your green armor.
Olive, sweet, tasty Olive,
How I love you so and my mealtimes wouldn't be the same
If you weren't in my life.
Oh Olive,
Nothing can compare to you, nothing at all,
You are food of the gods, a king's riches
And, most importantly, you are mine, oh Olive!
Ballad
Format
-A Ballad is a poem that tells a story, which are often
used in songs because of their rhyme. A ballad is a
poetic story, often a love story, but it does not have to
be.
-This would be a good poem to tell the plot of your story
or to retell an event.
-Has clear use of end rhyme and rhythm
-Rhyme scheme is similar to the example:
A
A
B
B
C
C
D
D
E
E
F
F
etc
Diamante (2)
Format
When a diamante poem is written it takes on the shape
of a diamond.
A diamante poem is made up of 7 lines using a set
structure:
Line 1: Beginning subject
Line 2: Two describing words about line 1
Line 3: Three doing words about line 1
Line 4: A short phrase about line 1, a short phrase
about line 7
Line 5: Three doing words about line 7
Line 6: Two describing words about line 7
Line 7: End subject
Randeau (Example continues onto the next page too)
Format
A Rondeau is a short poem consisting of fifteen lines
that have two rhymes throughout. The first few words or
phrase from the first line are repeated twice in the poem
as a refrain.
-The letters in parenthesis at the beginning show the
rhyme scheme to follow.
Example
As I was walking down the street
I saw two people in secret meet
The second one said to the first
'You have some news to quench my thirst?'
'In behind the old, damp shed
There lies a noble man slain, dead
And no one knows he lies in strife
Except his dog and lonely wife
With master gone where no one knocks
His dog has left to chase a fox
His wife has found somebody new
His house is left for all to view
Though it's been empty for a while
We'll be warm and dry in half a mile
For now we can take comfort there
We'll flee the place when it grows bare
Many people knew the noble man
But none do care where he has gone
Over his grave, all do ignore
The wind shall blow forever more.'
Example
Bike
Shiny, quiet,
Pedaling, spinning, weaving
Whizzing round corners, zooming along roads
Racing, roaring, speeding
Fast, loud,
Car
Example
The capital A is the refrain and sentence it is taken from
(a) In Summertime we do not go
(a) To school for weeks and weeks, no no!
(b) We take a day trip to the beach
(b) And buy ourselves an ice cream each
(a) We run into the surf that's low
(a) Get seaweed wrapped around our toes
(a) While others sunbathe on a throw
(b) We build sandcastles tides can't reach
(A) In Summertime.
(a) As the light warm breeze begins to blow
(a) And our hunger begins to grow
(b) From the picnic I grab a peach
(b) 'Let's stay longer' I do beseech
(a) As the sun sets the sky does glow
(A) In Summertime.
Tanka
Format
A tanka poem is a Japanese poem which can also be
known as a waka or uta. A tanka poem is similar to a
haiku but has two additional lines.
A tanka consists of 5 lines and 31 syllables.
Example
(5) I love my kitten.
(7) She is so little and cute.
(5) She has a pink tongue,
(7) And lots of long whiskers too.
(7) She purrs when I stroke her back.
Each line has a set number of syllables see below:
Line 1 – 5 syllables
Line 2 – 7 syllables
Line 3 – 5 syllables
Line 4 – 7 syllables
Line 5 – 7 syllables
Concrete (for the digital version, you will need to scan it or take a picture of it and upload it to your project)
Format
-Choose an important object
from your book.
-Write a poem that takes the
shape of that object. Use the
words to shape or outline the
object
Example
See examples in class too
Most definitions and examples came word for word from the source below. Quotation marks were not used around
information to limit student confusion.
Bonacia Ltd. "Poetry Glossary-Poetry Types." Young Writers. Youngwriters, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2015.
<https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/glossary-poetry-types>.