Want a challenge? Check out the page for Senior School students for more advanced poetry styles.
RECOMMENDATION: Use Rhyme Desk as a space to write your poetry. It makes it easy to look up rhyming words and synonyms as you go.
Easy / Quick Styles
Diamante
Diamante poems are about two opposing things, arranged in a diamond shape.
Diamante interactive: http://destross.com/content_pages/diamante.html
Acrostic / Acronym
A poem where the first letter of each line spells a word.
One word acrostics are also called ‘Acronyms‘. For example, QANTAS is an Acronym for ‘Queensland and Northern Territory Air Service’.
Use this interactive to put one together: https://www.poetrygames.org/poetry-machine/poetry-2.php
To make acronyms, try the Wordfinder: http://www.joglab.com/wordfinder.htm
Step by step instructions on how to write: https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-an-acrostic-poem/
You can even try putting the word at the end of the line:
Cinquain
Five line poem, with 24682 syllables. That is, the first line is 2 syllables; then 4, 6, 8, and 2. Does not need to rhyme.
Use this interactive to write one: https://www.poetrygames.org/poetry-machine/poetry-8.php
Here is a step by step guide to writing a cinquain: https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-a-cinquain-poem/
Free Verse
These are poems which don’t have a preset style or structure. There are no rules in free verse!
You can try this magnetic poetry interactive to write some free verse.
Haiku and Tanka
A Haiku is a Japanese traditional style. Three lines: 5 syllables, 7 syllables then 5 syllables.
Traditionally about nature, but these days can be about anything.
Step by Step for writing a haiku: https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Haiku-Poem
Use the Haiku interactive here: https://www.poetrygames.org/poetry-machine/poetry-15.php
For some COVID-19 Haikus, go here.
You can also do a ‘Tanka’, which is another Japanese style. The structure is 5,7,5,7,7 syllables.
Tanka interactive: https://www.poetrygames.org/poetry-machine/poetry-43.php
For step by step how to write a Tanka, go here: https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Tanka-Poem
For more advice on writing tankas, go here: https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-a-tanka-poem/
Haiku
Tankas
Trickier Styles
Triolet
This is a simple poetry style which easily makes poem sound meaningful.
It is 8 lines with a ABaAabAB rhyme scheme.
Triolet interactive: https://www.poetrygames.org/poetry-machine/poetry-45.php
Shape Poems
Also called ‘Concrete Poems’.
These are poems that take the shape of the subject.
This can be any poem style.
The best shape poems reflect the meaning of the poem.
Tips:
Find your image or design. Pick something with a clear silohette. Put the image behind the text (using Word or PowerPoint), then edit your words to fit.
For some step by step advice, go here: https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-a-concrete-poem/
Limericks
Traditional funny Irish style of poetry, which has a strict AABBA rhyme scheme, and a strict rhythm:
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM
da DUM da da DUM da da DUM
Some step by step Limerick advice is here: https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-a-limerick/
Repetition Poems
Repeat a key word, a phrase, a sentence structure or a line.
A repeated word or phrase is called a motif. They usually represent the central ideas of your poem.
Songs use repetition a lot, particularly between verses.
Some advice for using repetition: https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-a-repetition-poem/
Want to try something else?
RECOMMEND: Poetry Machine has lots of poem interactives to try: https://www.poetrygames.org/poetry-machine/
There is a massive list of different poetry forms here: https://poetscollective.org/poetryforms/
Ms Roberts' Lesson Stuff 