Poem Examples

Poem examples to accompany poetry unit vocabulary

1. Types of Poems

2. Format of a Limerick A five line poem with a rhyme scheme of aabba . Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme with each other, and lines 3 and 4 rhyme with each other.

3. Limerick Example There was a young boy from Caboo , (a) Who had trouble tying his shoe . (a) He said to his ox , ( b ) "I'll just walk in my socks ." ( b ) Now all of his friends do that, too ! (a)

4. Couplet A two line poem where the two lines rhyme. Example: Hey diddle, diddle, The cat and the fiddle

5. Alliteration Poem A Two-Word Name – Big Bobby An Action – bought An Adjective – brown An Item – bears Example :  Big Bobby bought brown bears . Brown bears Big Bobby bought . If Big Bobby bought brown bears , How many brown bears did Big Bobby buy ?

6. The Feeling Poem Format Line one: Name an emotion Line two: “Smells like. . .” Line three: “Tastes like. . .” Line four: “Sounds like. . .” Line five: “Feels like. . . .” Line six: “Feels like. . .” Line seven: “Feels like. . .” Line eight: Name the emotion

7. The Feeling Poem Example Fear Smells like the skin of burnt marshmallows, smells like burning hair, Tastes like chalk and Robitussin and vinegar, Sounds like thunder one-one-thousand-BOOM away, Feels like numbed cold fingers, Feels like pressure inside my lungs, Feels like my body’s not my body, make my body disappear, Fear

8. Haiku Format A three line poem 1 st and 3 rd lines contain exactly five syllables 2 nd line contains exactly seven syllables Usually about nature Free verse (does not rhyme)

9. Haiku Examples Silent fog creeping Out of the October night Smothering the world The glistening sea Glowing moon in the night sky Reflects on water

10. Diamante Poems that begin with one subject and end with another, totally different or opposite subject (7 lines total)

11. Diamante Format Line 1: A noun (Subject 1) Line 2: Two adjectives describing subject 1 Line 3: Three – ing words about subject 1 Line 4: Four nouns: two related to subject 1 and two related to subject 2 Line 5: Three – ing words telling about subject 2 Line 6: Two adjectives describing subject 2 Line 7: A noun (Subject 2) Cat/Dog Day/Night Up/Down Life/Death Vampire/Zombie Cold/Hot Spring/Fall Smart/Dumb Boy/Girl Sun/Rain

12. Diamante Examples Baby Cuddly, helpless Crawling, crying, playing Playpen, blocks, family, career Working, laughing, driving Confident, independent Adult

13. Student – Teacher Diamante Student Smart, thinker Learning, studying, working School, bus, car, office Helping, teaching, laughing Smart, awesome Teacher

14. Student – Teacher Example Student Young, reckless Complaining, texting, hard-working School, detention, boss, adult Boring, aging, teaching Smart, cool Teacher

15. Opposites Cat/Dog Day/Night Up/Down Life/Death Vampire/Zombie Cold/Hot Spring/Fall Smart/Dumb Boy/Girl

16. Acrostic Poem Uses the letters of a topic word as the first letter for each line of the poem. Each line includes words and phrases related to the topic. Usually does not rhyme

17. Sensory Poems Poems that use words related to sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to provide specific images for the reader.

18. Sensory Poems Example Fresh-Baked Bread I watched hungrily as my mother opens the oven To check the progress of the bread. My eyes devour the lightly browned crust. The mouthwatering aroma drifts across the kitchen. The delicious fragrance sneaks silently Past my nose into my brain. My tongue searches for a taste. My empty stomach shouts, “Eat! Eat! Eat!” Mother says, “A few more minutes.”

19. Cinquain Format A cinquain is a five-line poem that does not rhyme. Line 1: A noun Line 2: Two adjectives to describe the noun Line 3: Three action words ending in - ing Line 4: A short statement about the topic Line 5: A noun that is a synonym for line 1

20. Cinquain Example Memories Photographs Old, faded, Cracking, curling, yellowing Reminders of the past Memories

21. Concrete Poem Poetry that forms the shape of its subject or theme Example:

22. Narrative Poem A narrative poem tells a story. They can be long or short. Some narrative poems use end rhyme, some do not. Example: The Greedy Dog There once was a dog filled with greed Who wanted much more than he’s need. When he saw his reflection Upon further inspection He ended with nothing, indeed.

23. A Change Poem A change poem chronicles the change process of a being or concept. It is usually one sentence written one word on each line. The poem has a surprising change at the end to complete the form.

24. Change Poem Example Dairy The farmer squeezed the milk out of the cow into my c up.

25. Concrete Poems Concrete poems form the shape of its subject. Example: