Acrostic

The WitchWhizzing through the night sky

In and out, she weaves through the clouds

Tightly grasping her broomstick

Casting her mystical spells

Hiding in darkness

PurposeAcrostic poems describe a particular topic.

StructureAcrostic poems contain a topic word, written vertically down the page. Each letter of the word begins a new description.

Rhyming PatternAcrostic poems do not usually rhyme.

Topicword

Descriptions

Kennings

The SpiderWeb-maker

Insect-stalkerCreepy-crawler

Hairy-hiderClever-climberFear-inducer

PurposeKennings poems describe a particular topic.

StructureKennings poems can have several verses. Each verse usually has three lines which contain two words describing the topic.

Rhyming PatternKennings poems do not usually rhyme.

Verses with three lines each

Two descriptive words per line

Haiku

The RosePetals red as blood

Fragrant perfume fills the air

A delicate rose

PurposeHaiku poems describe a particular topic.

StructureHaiku poems have three lines. The first and third lines have five syllables and the second line has seven syllables.

Rhyming PatternHaiku poems do not usually rhyme.

Five syllables

Sevensyllables

Five syllables

CinquainPurposeCinquain poems describe a particular topic.

StructureCinquain poems have five lines. Each line uses descriptive words and phrases to create images of the topic.

Rhyming PatternCinquain poems do not usually rhyme.

Topic

Two descriptive words

Threeaction words

A feeling about the topic A synonym

for the topic

Snowflakes

Graceful, intricate

Floating, dancing, falling

Perfect in their uniqueness

Flawless

Ode

To ChocolateOh, chocolate!

You are the sweetest of all treats,Texture as soft and smooth as silk,A ball of happiness on my tongue.My heart smiles with every taste,

Feeding and warming my soul,Oh, how I adore you!

PurposeOdes express thoughts and feelings about a person or object.

StructureOdes can have several lines, or several verses. Imagery, such as simile, metaphor and personification, is usually included.

Rhyming PatternTraditional odes have a distinct rhythm and rhyming pattern; yet modern odes do not tend to follow these rules.

Simile

MetaphorPersonification

Limerick

The Old Lady From RomeThere was an old lady from Rome,Who never could find her way home.She would walk down the street,Getting very sore feet,That silly old lady from Rome!

PurposeLimericks are nonsense poems, meant to make people laugh.

StructureLimericks have five lines. The first, second and fifth lines have the same number of syllables, as do the third and fourth lines.

Rhyming PatternLimericks have rhythm, created by the number of syllables in each line. They also follow an aabba rhyming pattern.

The character

The situation

Summary

Plot development

Ballad

The ParkI went for a walk to the park one day, And what do you think I found? A busy bee stuck up in a tree, And a bee hive down on the ground!

I bravely walked up to that bee hive, And what do you think I did? I poked that hive and it came alive, So I ran away and I hid!

PurposeBallads are narrative poems, intended to tell a story.

StructureBallads can have several verses. Each verse has four lines. Sometimes, verses may be repeated throughout the poem.

Rhyming PatternBallads have rhythm, created by the number of syllables in each line. They usually follow an abcb rhyming pattern.

Verses with four lines in each

Shape Poems

RaindropsA

raindropslips down

my silent face.It falls so gently

off my cheek.Now gone.

PurposeShape poems describe a particular object.

StructureShape poems are written in the shape of the object they describe. They have no other formal structure.

Rhyming PatternShape poems do not usually rhyme.

Written to create the shape of a raindrop