Recently I was looking through Write Source 2000: A Guide to Writing, Thinking, & Learning, a reference book that we use at the middle school. Since I’m interested in poetry, I meandered on over to that section of the book and came across a fun and easy poetry form called the CINQUAIN.
There are two ways to compose this non-rhyming poem of five lines, by SYLLABLES or by WORDS.
For the SYLLABLE CINQUAIN, the pattern goes this way:
First line        2 syllables
Second line        4 syllables
Third line        6 syllables
Fourth line        8 syllables
Fifth line        2 syllables
Oh, just one more thing: The first line is the TITLE of your poem, and the fifth line restates the title in some way.
Here’s my example of a SYLLABLE CINQUAIN:
COFFEE
My morning drink
I pour it from the pot
Warming aroma, bitter tang
Java
For the WORD CINQUAIN, the pattern goes this way:
First line        1 word
Second line        2 words
Third line        3 words
Fourth line        4 words
Fifth line        1 word
Here’s my example of a WORD CINQUAIN:
SCRABBLE
Word game
Strategy and spelling
Fit the words together
Spell
Â
Fun! I think I may have my kids try this out. Great idea!
(I like your coffee one!)
Sarah