Quatrains
A quatrain is stanza (verse) with four lines and a rhyming scheme. However,
there are many variations of rhyming scheme so many people like to write
quatrain poems because there is lots of scope to express all your ideas. While a
quatrain is only one verse, a quatrain poem can have any number of quatrains in
it.
How to write a quatrain poem:
1. Read examples of quatrains
A summer day, a winter night,
Fluffy clouds, stars shine bright,
Appreciate all, here on earth,
Mother Nature, what is she worth?
Oh the birds are singing,
In a nest of broken sticks,
Look what they are bringing,
It’s nutrition for their chicks.
Shakespeare uses lots of quatrains in his poetry and plays. He mainly writes in
sonnets which contain a combination of quatrains and rhyming couplets.
2. Choose a subject for your poem. More abstract topics such as nature or
emotion are easiest to find rhyme for, however you can write about anything. It
could even tell a story as your poem can have more than one stanza.
3. Choose a rhyme scheme. It is best to choose the rhyme scheme before you
start writing however you may have to change it later if you can't find anything to
fit. Common rhyme schemes for a quatrain are: ABAB, AABB and ABBA. If you
have more than one verse you could consider: AABA BBCB CCDC etc. or
similar.
An example of ABAB rhyme scheme would be:
A:
B:
A:
B:
Today there was some snow
It's falling down a treat
Then the wind began to blow
And now it’s turned to sleet.
Notice how all the "A" lines rhyme and all the "B" lines rhyme.
(The first example in step one is ABAB rhyme scheme. The second is AABB.)
4. Start writing. Use a rhyming dictionary or thesaurus for help if you get stuck
on rhymes. Remember you might not always be able to say everything how you
like because you are constricted by a rhyme scheme, but you may change from
the rhyme scheme you chose to begin with. (Google “rhyming dictionary”)

The first line is the base of your poem because they don't have to rhyme
with anything yet. Start with this.

Brain storm a list of words that rhyme with the last word of the line you've
written, but try to find ones that can be related to your topic.

The first line is always called "A" so check the rhyme scheme you've
chosen and see where the line that rhymes with A (also called A) fits into
your poem.

Build on the words you've brainstormed so they become a line. For
beginners, try and create lines all of similar lengths.

After that work on the "B" rhymes - or if possible, be working on these
along side the previous steps.

Sometimes you'll be stuck in a rut and there are no rhymes that fit! That is
OK and is very likely to happen. You need to back track and change some
of the other lines, this is all part of writing a poem.
5. Read your stanza aloud to check it flows naturally. At this point you may need
to change the amount of syllables in each line or choose different words in order
to have the best possible quatrain.
6. Check spelling and grammar.
7. Decide if you want more than one stanza and if so, repeat the previous step.
Following quatrains often have the same rhyme scheme. Although this is not
mandatory it will make your poem sound better generally.
Remember - you will write better poetry as you practice - you won't become a
poet with one poem! Keep rhyming!
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Quatrain-Poem