Definition Poetry - bovarules
Definition Poetry
A Definition Poem is a free verse poem about a single concept. Begin the poem with "What is...? Here is an Example:
What is Courage?
beating up a bully,
taking home a bad report card,
tattling on a friend,
wearing something weird to school,
tackling in football!
Here are some topics from which a poem might be written. There are many others:
Fear,adults, war friendship brother/sister/mother/father school happiness night love
loneliness weather (cold, hot, etc.) seasons (winter, summer, etc.) sports (baseball, football, etc.) holidays (Christmas, Halloween, etc.)
Couplets of a Different Kind
Instead of writing regular two lined rhyming couplets, have children try their hand at writing some according to the following formats:
Geographical Couplet example:
To Indianapolis I was driving my car,
Reached Minneapolis, OOPS! Too far!
Antonym Couplet example:
You used to be a small shrimp,
Now look at you, you're as big as a blimp!
Synonym Couplet example:
The sparkling stars are such a sight,
They gleam with beauty all through the night.
Compound Word Couplet example:
The lighthouse's beam is shiny and bright,
It guides the sailboats safely through the night.
Clerihews
Clerihews are funny rhyming poems of four short lines, usually associated with a famous person.
Example:Jimmy Carter
Would have been a lot smarter,
Had he not let brother Billy roam
And sent him back to the peanut farm at home!
Choose a famous person and create a four lined poem about him/her. The first and second lines should rhyme as well as the third and fourth.
Emotion Poem
Choose any emotion as a subject. (happy,angry,love,nervous,jealous,etc.)
Line 1: Emotion
Line 2: If ___ were a color,
Line 3: It would be __
Line 4: As __ as a __.
Line 5: If __ were a taste,
Line 6: It would be just like ___.
Line 7: If __ were a feeling,.
Line 8: It would be __ as a ____.
Line 9: If ___ were a smell,
Line 10: It would be ___ as a ___.
Line 11: If ____ were a sound,
Line 12: It would be ___ as a ____.
Example:
If happy were a color,
It would be blue.
As blue as a sky on a sunny day.
If happy were a taste,
It would be as sweet as honey melting in your mouth.
If happy were a feeling,
It would be exciting as your first step must have been.
If happy were a smell,
It would be as wonderful as brownies baking in the oven.
If happy were a sound,
It would be as soft as tinkling keys on a piano.
[pic]
Hello Poem
The easiest way to start is with an example:
Hello!
My name is Mark.
If I were a color,
I'd be light blue
Like the sky on a bright summer day.
If I were an animal,
I'd be something fast and powerful,
Like a prowling tiger or maybe a cheetah.
My favorite place is home
When it's a relaxing weekend
And we can just enjoy each other.
My favorite snack is a hot fudge sundae
The extra large size with lots of gooey topping
from the ice cream store on the corner.
I really get upset
When there's a football game on TV
And my dad says, "Isn't it time you mowed the lawn?"
I love listening to rock and roll music
When my folks aren't around
To complain.
Pattern: This can be modified any way that fits your needs!
Hello!
My name is ___
If I were a color,
I'd be ____
Like _____.
If I were an animal,
I'd be ____
Like a ____.
My favorite place is ___.
When ____
And ____.
My favorite snack is ___,
the _____
______.
I really get upset
When___
And I have to _____.
I love listening to ____
When _____
_____.
[pic]
Color Poem
Once again, it's easier to start with an example:
Yellow, yellow, hello yellow!
Welcome to a bright hot sun.
Yellow, yellow, let's yell for yellow!
Juicy lemons,
Banana peels,
A singing canary in a cage,
The plastic ruler in my desk,
Yellow crayons in the box.
Yeah, let's hear it for yellow!
The form is easy and can be adapted in any way.
____,_____, hello ____!(color)
Welcome to ________.(something that color)
____, ______, let's _____ for _______!(color, verb)
________ _________(something that color),
_________ ________,
etc. (as many as the child wants to write)
Yeah, let's hear it for _____(color)!
Karen is a 5'2" girl
With blond hair and hazel eyes
She lives in Tampa, FL
She walks every night for exercise
She is really happy most of the time
She feels glad when the weekend rolls around
She eats cheeseburgers with lots of onions and pickles
Her friends are joy, hope, and loyalty
Her enemy is intolerance
She is grateful to be healthy and happy
Here is the form:
____ is a _____
With _______
____lives in ____
He/She _____ (movement)
He/She is _____(emotion)
He/She feels _____
He/She eats ____
His/Her friends are _____(2 or three)
His/Her enemy is _____
He/She is grateful ___
[pic]
The Most Beautiful
This is a one-sentence poem in which a word picture is painted by the poet.
An example first:
The most beautiful thing
I've ever seen
was a bromeliad
with long drooping leaves
and a bright red flower.
By William
Pattern:
The most beautiful thing
I've ever seen
was ____
_________
______________. (illustrations make these poems especially lovely for bulletin board display)
[pic]
Window Poem
This is a poem inspired by a picture one might take of a special view or place, or just simply looking out of the window.
Example:
A dark and threatening sky
may hold a thunderstorm and a shower or two
Birds flutter all around.
The wind begins tossing the leaves about.
Rain starts tap-dancing on the windowpanes.
Pattern:
Lines 1 and 2: Two part sentence about what is seen
Lines 3,4, and 5: Sentences relating to the first line
Holiday Poetry
Choose a holiday that you really like, and write a poem about it. Here is the format:
Line 1: Name of holiday
Line 2: Something you see on this holiday
Line 3: Something you smell on this holiday
Line 4: Something you hear on this holiday
Line 5: Something you taste on this holiday
Line 6: Something you touch on this holiday
Line 7: Name of holiday
Example:
Fourth of July
Flags of red, white, and blue
Barbecued chicken on the grill
Sparkling fireworks and noisy firecrackers
Juicy red watermelon
A bright shooting sparkler in my hand
Fourth of July
[pic]
When is Halloween?
Here is an example:
When is Halloween?
When scary pumpkins glow,
And spooky witches fly
When ghostly mummies dance,
And black cats lurk in the shadows,
Children go trick-or-treating
While ghosts are haunting houses!
Then it's Halloween!
Here is the pattern:
When is Halloween?
When ___(adj., noun, verb)
And ____(adj., noun, verb)
When ____(adj., noun, verb)
And ___(adj.,noun, verb, prep. phrase)
____(noun, verb)
While ___ (noun,verb, noun)
Then it's Halloween!
[pic]
I am Waiting
This is somewhat like the last one, but it can be adapted to any holiday or even a child's birthday! Here is one written by a second grader:
I am waiting for . . .
doors to squeak open
bowls filled with candy
ghosts to pop out and say "Boo!"
witches to ride across the sky on their brooms
skeletons to rattle in their graves
trick-or-treating night with LOTS of candy
Then I'll know
Halloween is here!
[pic]
A-Haunting we will go
Write two or three verses to this old song using Halloween words. Here is an example:
A-haunting we will go,
A-haunting we will go,
We'll catch a ghoul
And throw him in the pool
A-haunting we will go!
A-haunting we will go,
A-haunting we will go,
We'll catch a witch
And give her a pitch
A-haunting we will go!
[pic]
Halloween Countdown
This is simply a rhymed countdown with Halloween symbols. Below is the example:
There are ten spiders in the kitchen drawer,
There are nine bats flying in the sky,
There are eight skeletons dancing on the floor,
There are seven witches flying ever so high,
There are six pumpkins sitting by the door,
There are five cats chasing some poor guy,
There are four monsters going to the store,
There are three goblins waving good-bye,
There are two ghosts waiting for cider to pour,
There is one vampire who might cry.
[pic]
The Week Before Halloween
(Could also be used for other holidays)
This is somewhat like the poem above only using days of the week to start. Here is an example:
I knew Halloween was coming because. . .
On Sunday I saw one bat flying in the sky,
On Monday I saw two witches repairing their brooms,
On Tuesday I saw three vampires at the dentist,
On Wednesday I saw I saw four black cats stalking some mice,
On Thursday I saw five jack-o'-lanterns grinning in the dark,
On Friday I saw six werewolves in the moonlight,
On Saturday I saw seven skeletons dancing down the street.
I told you Halloween was coming!
[pic]
Thanksgiving Song of Thanks
This is simply a song of praise in which the child finishes statements with phrases of his/her choice. Here is the form:
Thank you for eyes that see . . .
Thank you for my ears that hear
Thank you for my mouth that tastes
Thank you for hands that feel
Thank you for my nose that smells
Thank you God for everything!
Here is an example: (shortened - 4 or 5 phrases are asked but this may be modified)
Thank you for eyes that see . . .
my loving family,
all my friends,
my teachers at school
and a lovely sunset.
Thank you for my ears that hear. . .
birds singing in the trees,
rain dancing on the roof
my baby sister giggling,
and mother and daddy singing.
Thank you for my mouth that tastes . . .
pumpkin pie with whipped cream
the many flavors of ice cream
steak on the grill
and chocolate, chocolate, chocolate!
Thank you for my hands that feel . . .
my mom's soft hands
the pages of a long book
a soft warm bed at night
and my new puppies.
Thank you for a nose that smells. . .
roses in the backyard,
brownies baking in the oven
brand new shoes
and the outdoors after the rain.
Thank you God for everything!
[pic]
I Like the Colors of Christmas
The world is filled with colors during this season. Red and green always come to mind, but there are many others! Below is an example of a Christmas color poem. It can be adapted in any way to meet your needs.
I like the colors of Christmas,
Red for the nose on Santa's face,
Blue is the ribbon on a package,
Green is the tree so tall and bright
Silver is the tinsel hanging down so low
Gold is the treetop angel,
I like the colors of Christmas!
[pic]
An Old Rhyme
(suitable for Valentine's Day)
Read the following poem.
I love you little.
I love you lots.
My love for you would fill ten pots,
Fifteen buckets,
Sixteen cans,
Three teacups,
And four dishpans.
Note the special rhyming pattern of this poem. Here is one written by a student using the same pattern:
I love you little.
I love you lucky.
My love for you would fill Kentucky,
Six jugs,
Seven cars,
Twenty buildings,
And a hundred concrete bars.
[pic]
Mother's Day
(can be adapted to Father's Day)
My Mom
This is a simile poem where the child may have the choice of which ones to use. It can be just a couple of verses or many. Here is an example:
My mom
as sweet as a Hershey chocolate bar,
as energetic as Richard Simmons,
as smart as Albert Einstein.
She has
hair as red as a beautiful sunset on the beach,
eyes that sparkle like stars,
a smile as broad as the Grand Canyon,
cheeks as rosy as a bright new day!
My mom
[pic]
Mother by the Numbers
This is simply a count to ten about things that Mother does.
Here is an example:
One little mother
Two children to watch over
Three beds to make
Four loads of laundry to do
Five errands to run
Six pairs of pants to hem
Seven rooms to clean
Eight bills to pay
Nine shirts to iron
Ten groceries to buy
Then she does it all over again!
[pic]
The ABC's of Mother
Simply use the alphabet to write phrases about Mother. This would make a nice card to send to her for Mother's Day. Here is a partial example:
A lways on the go
B est cook in the world
C an do almost anything
D oes five things at once
E xcellent organizer
F ixes things around the house
[pic]
Mother and Me
There are things that we wish our mother would do, but on Mother's Day, we certainly can think of things that we should do for her! This is one child's example:
Sometimes I wish my mother would . . .
let me stay up as late as I wanted,
wouldn't make me clean my room,
not say,"Eat your broccoli!"
or remind me to do my homework.
On the other hand, I could . . .
go to bed on time without complaining,
clean my room without being asked,
eat all the food on my plate,
do my homework with a smile.
Well, at least on Mother's Day!
The Five W's Poem
Who? What? When? Where? Why? Use these questions to write a non-rhyming poem. Here's how:
Line 1: Who or what is the poem about
Line 2: What action is happening?
Line 3: When does the action take place? (a time)
Line 4: Where does the action take place? (a place)
Line 5: Why does this action happen? (a reason)
Example:
The laughing children
Splashing in the water
On a hot July day
At the neighborhood swimming pool
To just try and keep cool
[pic]
Parody
This parody is a comical or humorous one based on a Mother Goose nursery rhyme. Minor changes are made to the original poem. Here are some examples:
There was an old woman
Who was very lazy
She had so many kids
She thought she'd go crazy!
Humpty Dumpty
Was quite tough
He could even play sports
That were very rough!
[pic]
Rhythm Poetry
This is an easy poem to write because it follows such a definite pattern. It's a good one to use when studying adjectives! Any subject can be used as the main idea. Here is an example:
Friends, Friends, Friends
Girl friends
Boy friends
Neat, smart, funny friends
Short, tall, cool friends
Those are just a few!
Happy friends
Sad friends
Awesome, peppy, enthusiastic friends
Poor, lonely, upset friends
Weird friends too!
Thoughtful friends
Kind friends
And don't forget your teacher friends!
Last of all
Best of all
I like BEST friends!
Here is the pattern:
adj. noun
adj. noun
adj.,adj., adj. noun
adj., adj., adj. noun
Those are just a few!
adj. noun
adj. noun
adj., adj., adj. noun
adj., adj., adj. noun
adj. noun too!
adj. noun
adj. noun
And don't forget (adj.) noun
Last of all
Best of all
I like (adj.) noun!
[pic]
Acrostic
Everyone has done an acrostic poem at one time or another by using the first letter of a word or phrase and completing a sentence that fits the beginning letter. They are often used spelling the name of a holiday such as the one below.
C arolers singing under the street lights
H olly wrapped around a wreath
R eady to open gifts from Santa
I cicles hanging on the tree
S anta's reindeer on the roof
T urkey roasting in the oven
M other running to and fro
A ngel sparkling on the treetop
S miles all around
For variety, an acrostic can be used in other subject areas such as science for endangered animals, weather, etc. Children can write an acrostic for a particular state or country. They can also be used as a comprehension tool. Spelling out the name of the book or story read and using the title as an acrostic will challenge children to be specific in creating sentences to go with the letters. Sometimes we can't limit them to using the letter as the initial one, but somewhere within the sentence or phrase such as the following:
Was A lumberjack (this phrase was used for the A in Paul Bunyan written as an acrostic)
Telephone Poem
This poem is to be written using your telephone number as a guide. Write your telephone number, then a line of poetry next to each number. Each line of the poem has the same number of syllables as shown by the telephone number. You can also choose a subject from which to write your poem. (summer, football, etc.)
Example:
8 If you need someone to talk to
7 Or you're all alone at home
9 If you want to joke or just gossip
0
1 Call!
3 I'll be home
9 We can do our homework together!
[pic]
Number Fact Rap
When children are learning their basic number facts and have any difficulty mastering a particular table, sometimes it's fun for them to create a "rap rhyme" to help them remember! Here is an example by Mackenzie:
8 x1 is really great
because the answer is the number eight.
8 x 2= sixteen,
Isn't that the greatest thing you've ever seen?
8 x 3 gets you twenty-four,
Isn't it too bad it doesn't do a chore?
32 is what you get from eight times four,
Get a little closer, and I'll tell you some more!
8 x 5= 40 and 8 x 6 = forty-eight,
Hurry up and learn them, don't be late.
8 x 7= 56. Know why?
That's what happens when you multiply!
8 x 8= sixty-four,
Please don't walk out the door.
8 x 9 = seventy-two,
This number is so smart it can tie its shoe.
80 is what you get from 8 x 10,
Soon we can do this rap again!
A Cinquain is a five lined poem. Here is an example:
Spider
Furry, black
Climbing, spinning, weaving
They make an intricate web
Tarantula
The form is as follows:
Line 1: Subject
Line 2: two describing words
Line 3: -ing words about what the subject does
Line 4: a sentence about the subject
Line 5: another name for the subject
[pic]
The most common form of a Diamante poem is the seven lined version. This form is written about two opposite subjects and makes a comparison between them by moving from one to the other. Subjects might include war-peace, fire-ice, hot-cold, etc. Here is the model for writing such a poem:
Line 1: one noun that names the first subject of the diamonte
Line 2: two adjectives that describe the first subject
Line 3: three -ing words that are related to the first subject
Line 4: four nouns: the first two related to the first subject (named in line 1) and the second two related to the second subject (named in line 7)
Line 5: three -ing words that are related to the second subject
Line 6: two adjectives that describe the second subject
Line 7: one noun that names the second subject of the diamante
Here is an example:
Dogs,
playful, active
running, playing, growing
fast, fun, soft, nice
sleeping, meowing, eating
furry, whiskery
Cats
by Andrew
[pic]
Haiku is an unrhymed Japanese poem with three lines and a specific syllable pattern. Haiku's theme is usually nature.
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables
Here is an example:
An old silent pond
From leaf to leaf hops a frog
Looking for a meal
[pic]
A Triplet is a poem of three lines. Most often the three lines rhyme. Some triplets have only two rhymed lines with different patterns.
Example: 3 rhyming lines
Football is the game for me
The stadium is a great place to be
Touchdowns are what I like to see.
Example: 2 rhyming lines
Down by the lake,
Grandpa and I drop a line
Then have lots of fish to take
[pic]
A Limerick is a very short but funny poem. There is a rhyme and rhythm pattern that makes it flow smoothly. Here is an example:
There once was a tycoon from New York
Who thought he could eat all foods with a fork;
Ice cream gave him some trouble
His problem seemed to double
When he tried sipping champagne from the cork!
The form is as follows:
Lines 1, 2, and 5: rhyme and have eight to ten syllables
Lines 3 and 4: rhyme and have five to seven syllables
SENYRU
Senyru is a 3 lined Japanese poem that uses more general subjects than Haiku. It is not restricted to 17 syllables either. Here is an example:
Fog is a misty kind of a thing
It swirls through the trees
And usually sleeps on the lake.
[pic]
TANKA
A tanka is quite similar to Japanese haiku, but consists of a total of 31 syllables distributed as follows:
Line 1: 5 syllables
Line 2: 7 syllables
Line 3: 5 syllables
Line 4: 7 syllables
Line 5: 7 syllables
They are usually written with nature or mood in mind. Here is an example:
The birds are chirping
Quietly in the forest
Watching for some worms
To appear after the rain
Oh, so patiently they wait.
[pic]
LANTERN
A lantern is a light and airy Japanese poem that follows a syllabic pattern as follows:
Line 1: one syllable (noun)
Line 2: two syllables (describing noun)
Line 3: three syllables (describing noun)
Line 4: four syllables (describing noun)
Line 5: one syllable (another word for the noun in line one)
They may be written in the shape of a Japanese lantern.
Here is an example:
boys
tackling
running fast
scoring touchdowns
lads
[pic]
CHAIN LANTERNS
Chain lanterns are simply groups of lantern poems that are joined together.The pattern of syllables is the same (1,2,3,4,1) and the chain should be at least three verses long. Some chains are longer! In this case, the first and last lines need not be synonyms. Here is an example:
Some
little
kitten purrs
gently by the
fire.
Sleep
comes quite
easily
to a drowsy
one.
Soon
she will
be dreaming
of a big fat
mouse!
[pic]
SIJO
A sijo is a poem with a specific pattern of syllables. They are as follows:
Six lines
six to eight syllables in each line
forty-two to forty-eight syllables in all
Here is an example:
Many boats are in the harbor
On this bright and sunny day!
Waiting for a crew to arrive
To prepare them for a run
Sails will be billowing
Wind will carry them all away.
If Only Poem
An If Only poem is one that honors a very special person. It can be written about a family member, a friend, or anyone fitting the above description. The following example was written for our school nurse:
Mrs. Glass
Busy but caring
Treats you kindly
As friendly as a puppy
I wish she didn't have to give us all that medicine!
Here is the form:
Line 1: Names a special person
Line 2: Write two descriptive words separated by "and" or "but"
Line 3: Tell what the person does and how
Line 4: Write a simile using "as"
Line 5: Write a wish
(Each line begins with a capital letter, and the last line ends with either a period or an exclamation point)
[pic]
Simile poetry is a descriptive poem about the writer. The child may write four lined poems of one or two verses which need not rhyme. Here is an example:
I am as gentle as a purring kitten.
I am as friendly as a puppy.
I am as colorful as a rainbow.
I am as frisky as a squirrel.
I am as fast as a thoroughbred.
I am as fresh as newly baked bread.
I am as brave as a soldier.
And I am as smart as Einstein.
[pic]
A Noun Verse is a patterned poem of four lines. They should be pleasant poems that lend themselves to many different subjects.
Here is an example:
Butterflies
delicate, colorful
hovering, fluttering
Monarchs
Here is the pattern:
Line 1: noun
Line 2: two adjectives that describe the noun
Line 3: two "ing" verbs
Line 4: a synonym
[pic]
A Verb Poem uses all verbs or verb phrases except for the first line. The first line names a noun, usually a family member or someone with a specific occupation. Here is an example:
A Doctor
examines,
researches,
studies,
makes calls,
gives shots,
prescribes,
operates,
and cures!
[pic]
A Metaphor Poem links two objects that often appear to have little in common. After brainstorming topics, explore words of sight, smell, taste, touch, and sound. Think of other words that share a common link with the topic that was chosen. Here is an example:
A Halloween moon
is a giant dinner plate
lost in the dark.
The pattern simply uses a sentence separated into three lines. More than one verse can be used as long as it is related to the first verse.
[pic]
A Prepositional Phrase Poem is one that uses all prepositional phrases through seven lines which culminate into a place one is traveling. Here is an example by Sapna:
Over the fence
Through the weeds
Across the street
Around a house
In the puddles
Towards the hall
Into the classroom.
Quinzaine Poem
"Quinze" in French means fifteen. A quinzaine is an unrhymed verse of fifteen syllables distributed in three lines. The first line makes a statement and the next two lines ask a question relating to the statement. Here is an example:
The colored leaves are falling
Will it soon be time
rake or play?
Here is the pattern:
Line 1: Statement of 7 syllables
Line 2: Beginning of question with 5 syllables
Line 3: End of question with 3 syllables
[pic]
Sept Poem
A "Sept" poem is one about any subject with a specific syllable pattern. Below is an example:
My
Little
Spinning top
Just goes around
and around
then it
stops!
Here is the pattern:
Line 1: 1 syllable
Line 2: 2 syllables
Line 3: 3 syllables
Line 4: 4 syllables
Line 5: 3 syllables
Line 6: 2 syllables
Line 7: 1 syllable
[pic]
Septet Poem
A "Septet" poem is again one about any subject with a specific syllable pattern. Here is an example:
A small boy
Clutched his teddy bear
As he toddled off to bed,
Wanting it to keep him company
In the darkness of the night.
He peacefully slept
Through the night.
Here is the pattern:
Line 1: 3 syllables
Line 2: 5 syllables
Line 3: 7 syllables
Line 4: 9 syllablesLine 5: 7 syllables
Line 6: 5 syllables
Line 7: 3 syllables
[pic]
Terquain Poem
A "terquain" is a simple three lined poem about any subject. Each line states something about the subject. There are no rhymes or syllable patterns. Here is an example:
Football
Tackling, hitting
Tough!
Here is the simple pattern:
Line 1: one word subject
Line 2: two or three words describing the subject
Line 3: one word (a feeling about or synonym of the subject)
DON'T UNDERSTAND POEM
Begin this poem with the words "I don't understand." List several things you don't understand about the world, yourself, or other people. These can be serious or silly things. End your poem with something you DO understand.
Here is an example:
I do not understand why my mother talks on the phone so much.
I do not understand why I have to go to bed early.
I do not understand why we have to be on Daylight Savings Time.
I do not understand why I can't have more sleep-overs.
But most of all, I do not understand why three people can't get along.
I do understand that some people are strange!
[pic]
MY YEAR IN ---- GRADE
Reflect back on your year in ___ grade. Think of short phrases describing special events that you have enjoyed. Write a "phrase poem" about your experiences. Here is an example:
My Year in Third Grade
Great teacher,
shaving cream on desks
geoboards and designs
sharing every morning
spelling tests
big hugs
doing jobs
laughing again and again
happy smiles
reading together
lunch inside
drawing on the chalkboard
fun learning
and wild science experiments!
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Poetry Pack …examples… do not remove from class!
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