Types of Poems

ACROSTIC: 

In Acrostic poems, the first letters of each line are aligned vertically to form a word.
The word often is the subject of the poem.

An example is-

         EGGS

Elegantly and efficiently shaped

Good to eat

Great fun to find at Easter 

Smooth shelled

ALPHABET: 
Each line begins with the letters of the alphabet in order.

An example -   A young girl was busy working on her project for school
                But suddenly she had a question.
                Could this be her lucky day?
                Deciding to find out, she
                Entered her backyard and 

                Found hundreds of green shamrocks waiting for her.

AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL: 
Write a poem about yourself using  this form or another poetry form.
Line 1: __ Your name
Line 2: _, _, _ 3 personal characteristics or physical traits
Line 3: Brother or sister of__ or son/daughter of
Line 4: Who loves__, __, and __ 3 people, things, ideas
Line 5: Who feels__ about__1 emotion about 1 thing
Line 6: Who needs__, __, and __ 3 things you need
Line 7: Who gives __, __, and __3 objects you share
Line 8: Who fears__, __, and __3 items
Line 9: Who'd like to see, __1 place, or person
Line 10: Who dreams of __ 1 item or idea 
Line 11: A student of__ your school or teacher's name Line 12: __ Nickname or repeat your first name

 BALLAD: 

Retell an event in history, in the news, or in your life as a ballad.
You will want the ballad to rhyme. You may copy the style of other poets.

An example is - 
Joan of Arc
The day was cold, 
Both armies bold, 
As hands grasped the ladders, 
Ramparts were scaled, 
Arrows were sailed, 
But the French climbed the Tourelles.
Although Joan was hit in the shoulder, 
The French continued to grow bolder, 
Even slowly healing in a field, 
She raised a fiery French revolt, 
Just hit by a crossbow bolt, 
Armor glistening white.
The English got cold feet, 
And began a hasty retreat, 
As French crawled out of Orleans, 
Passing the cold river on boards, 
Attacking English with sharp swords, 
They set the Tourelles on fire.
English Captain Sir Glasdale, 
Certainly looked very pale, 
When they found him drowned in the river, 
Sir Talbot ordered the English forts be left, 
To avoid anymore French fort theft, 
And so Orleans was freed.
-Pierce

 CINQUAIN:  (History of)

Cinquains have five lines
Line 1: Title (noun) - 1 word
Line 2: Description - 2 words
Line 3: Action - 3 words
Line 4: Feeling (phrase) - 4 words
Line 5: Title (synonym for the title) - 1 word

An example is -

Mom 
Helpful, caring 
Loves to garden 
Excitable, likes satisfying people 
Teacher

Sammie

COLOR: 
A poem about your favorite color. Express your feelings about a single color with analogies or similes or list nouns which are (or remind you of) that color.
Another easy form is to use the 5 senses-looks like, sounds like, smells like, tastes like, feels like.
      Color looks like
      Color sounds like
      Color smells like
      Color tastes like
      Color feels like

An example is -

Orange
Orange is feeling in your stomach after an orange soda quenched your thirst.
Orange is the sun after a summer day.
Orange is the sound of a field filled with dandelions blowing in the wind.
Orange is the taste of a pizza that just came out of the oven.
Orange is the sound of a busy bumblebee.
Orange is the taste of cold glass of orange juice.
Orange is the feeling inside you when you accomplish something.
Orange is the sound of a tomato plant growing.
Orange is the color of a carrot that just popped out of the ground.
Orange is the smell of a Tiger-Lily petal.
Orange is the feeling after a baby smiles.
Orange is the color of a brown beaver's incisor.
Orange is the smell of a late July day.
Orange is the feeling of a puppy's fur.
Orange is the color of peach marmalade on a side of toast.
Orange is the sound of a canoe paddling through shallow water.
And orange is a color that is safe and alive.

Julia

DIAMANTE:

The Diamante is a form similar to the Cinquain. The text forms the shape of a diamond. 

Line 1: Noun or subject - one word 

Line 2: Two Adjectives that describe line 1 

Line 3: Three 'ing words that describe line 1 

Line 4: Four nouns - the first two are connected with line 1; the last two are connected with line 7 

Line 5: Three 'ing words that describe line 7 

Line 6: Two adjectives that describe line 7 

Line 7: Noun Synonym for the subject

               An example is- 

                                              Pencil 

                                          Sharp, skinny 

                                    Writing, answering, erasing 

                                     Wood, lead, ink, plastic 

                                    Drawing, smudging, leaking 

                                     Durable, comfortable 

                                             Pen 

                                           By Abbie

EPITAPH: 

"Here lies Sam Shay, 

Smoked six packs a day. 

He started smoking when he was five.

Now that fool is no longer alive

 HAIKU: 

Haiku is Japanese poetry that reflects on nature and feelings. You use your observation skills to write what you see in a new or different way.
There are three lines with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second, and five syllables in the third.

An old silent pond...

A frog jumps into the pond,

splash! Silence again.

RHYMING: 
Couplets are made up of two lines whose last words rhyme. They are often silly.An example is - 
 The cat ate a mouse
And then brought it in the house.

Triplets are made up of three lines. The rhyming pattern can be AAA or ABA.An example is -What a fine day
To go out to play
In the month of May.

Quatrains are made up of four lines. The rhyming pattern can be AABB or ABAB.An example is -The Purple Cow
Gelett Burgess

I never saw a purple cow,
I never hope to see one:
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one.

SHAPE (or CONCRETE): 
Shape poems are made up of words that have been placed in such a way that they make the shape of an object and also use words to describe the object.

Start by making a simple outline of the shape or object ( an animal, a football, a fruit etc.) large enough to fill a piece of paper.
Then brainstorm a minimum of ten words and phrases that describe the shape. List action and feeling words as well.
Next, place a piece of paper over the shape and decide where your words are going to be placed so that they outline your shape but also fit well together.
Separate words and phrases with commas.

This
Christmas
end a quarrel.
Seek out a forgotten
friend. Dismiss suspicion,
and replace it with trust.
Write a love letter. Share some
treasure. Give a soft answer. Keep
a promise. Find the time. Forgo a grudge.
Forgive an enemy. Listen. Apologize if you
were wrong. Try to understand. Examine your
demands on others. Think first of someone else. Be
Be kind; be gentle. Appreciate. Laugh a little. Laugh a
little more. Express your gratitude. Gladden the heart of a
child. Welcome a stranger. Take pleasure in the beauty and the
wonder of Earth.
Speak your love.
Speak it again.
Speak it yet
Once again.