Formula Poems

1. Formula Poems Haiku, Tanka, Cinquain, Diamante, Limerick, Concrete

2. Haiku • Invented in Japan • Three short lines of five, seven, and five syllables respectively • Words speak of a mood, a strong feeling, or an atmosphere • Usually about nature

3. Life Lesson The fierce wind rages And I see how trees survive – They have learned to bend By Don Raye

4. Understanding A warm smile from you Gleamed on me as a new moon- It straightened things out. By Don Raye

5. Write your own • Get a picture in your mind of a person that made you angry or sad or happy or glad • Write down your image using 10-15 words. Then put it into the 5-7-5 form • Try to make others see your picture or idea

6. The Tanka • Japanese form of poem (like an extension of the haiku) • 5 lines of 5, 7, 5, 7 and 7 syllables • Typically deals with a season of the year

7. Write your own • Choose your favourtie season • Write a Tanka

8. Papers The pile of papers Sprawled across this office desk Are but memories Of random skittery thoughts Flitting past my vacant gaze.

9. Cinquain • American • Five line poem First line 2 syllables Second line 4 syllables Third line 6 syllables Fourth line 8 syllables Fifth line 2 syllables

10. Similarities I touch Two curving things: The barrel of this pen, The slow uncertain unwindings of This verse

11. Panic at Midnight It’s dark I’m surrounded By strange shapes and shadows There’s someone coming up the stairs It’s…mom What emotion is shown?

12. Write your own Brainstorm different emotions. Choose an emotion from the list and work with a partner to create a cinquain.

13. Diamante • A diamond-shaped poem expressing contrast • Form: one noun Two adjectives describing the noun Three words ending in “ing” related to the noun Four nouns related to the subject (second 2 should be opposites) Three words ending in “ing” (opposites) Two adjectives (opposites) A noun that is the opposite of the original noun

14. Galaxies Distant, huge Glowing, turning, going Space, mystery – energy, life Growing, circling, building Tiny, basic Atoms

15. Now Create Your Own • Think of two opposites • Brainstorm words to describe each idea • Put into the diamante form

16. Limericks • A limerick is a light hearted humorous poem. • A limerick always has the rhyming scheme • A-A-B-B-A • (So line 1,2 & 5 rhyme with each other and lines 3&4 rhyme with each other.)

17. There was a young man from Leeds Who ate a whole packet of seeds, In less than an hour His nose was a flower And his head was a garden of weeds!

18. There was an old man from Blackheath, Who sat down on his set of false teeth. He said, in his pain, “I’ve done it again, I’ve bitten myself underneath.

19. Complete this limerick There was a man from Ealing Who liked to hang from the _________. He said, ‘ I can’t wear a hat. But I hang like a ______ And it’s certainly a wonderful ________.

20. Now make your own… There was a young ____from ____ Who . . And……

21. Concrete poem • A poem that forms a visible picture on the page • Shape usually reflects the subject of the poem

22. Trees blossoming in the spring Clouds above give rain Fruit will come soon Nature is at work While Trees Stand Still.