Poetry

What is Poetry?

literary work in which special intensity is given to the expression of feelings and ideas. • Use of distinctive style • Rhythm • Stanzas • Syllables Poetry is a genre.

Types of Poetry

• Acrostic • Haiku • Sonnet • Lyrical • Free Verse

Acrostic Poetry

• The first letters of each line spell out a word or phrase

• Do not have to rhyme • Do not have to have rhythm • Can be as short or as long as you want • First letter of each line is capitalized

Example of Acrostic Poetry

layful friend

erky, loves to run and jump

retty soft fur

oung dog

nderstanding and loyal

HAIKU

• Japanese poetry form • Three lines • Unrhymed • Lines syllables go: 5,7,5 • Usually about nature or seasons

Example of Haiku Poetry

Winter is coming. Snow will be arriving soon. We should rake the leaves.

Poem written by Ken Nesbitt www.poetry4kids.com

SONNET

• created during the renaissance • consist of 14 lines • three, four line stanzas accompanied by a two line closing

stanza • rhyming scheme

• abab cdcd efef gg

• the first and third lines of each four line stanza rhyme and the second and fourth lines of each four line stanza rhyme

• two lines of the closing stanza should rhyme • Each line of the stanza should have ten syllables

Limerick

• 5 line poem • The 1st, 2nd and 5th lines rhyme • The 3rd and 4th lines rhyme

Example of a Limerick

Hickory, dickory, dock.

The mouse ran up the clock.

The clock struck one

and down he run.

Hickory, dickory, dock.

by "Mother Goose"

FREE VERSE

• Doesn’t rhyme • Can be as short or long as you want • Doesn’t follow any pattern

FREE VERSE

Thrill Ride Up. Up.

Click, click. Wind blows

sharp in my ears. My heart jumps. Skips. It’s up. It’s up higher. It’s up, up the highest.

Hands grasp at the clouds. Then a forever pause. Still. Waiting.

Finally. Whoosh! Steep drop

down, down, down.

Written by Ken Nesbitt www.poetry4kids.com

Stanza

My dog plays invisible Frisbee. He catches invisible balls. He rides an invisible skateboard. He hurdles invisible walls. My dog has perfected the practice of doing invisible tricks. He jumps with invisible jump ropes and fetches invisible sticks. He barks at invisible mailmen. He growls at invisible cats. He'll bring me invisible slippers and even invisible hats. He chases invisible squirrels whenever we go for a jog. He's clearly the greatest dog ever. I love my invisible dog.

--Kenn Nesbitt

Stanza 1

Stanza 2

Stanza 3

Stanza 4

Let’s Practice! What happens in stanza 3? a. Remark that night is dark b. Let you know that snails are

slow c. Take a chair and let me share d. Tell you that the water’s wet

Hello, I'm Mr. Obvious. I point out things you know. I'll tell you that the water's wet. I'll say that plants can grow. I might remark that night is dark. I'll add that grass is green. And I'll repeat that sugar's sweet and washing makes you clean. I'll let you know that snails are slow, and one plus one is two, and then declare that squares are square and state the sky is blue. You see, I'm kind, so I don't mind explaining simple things. And when I do this just for you I love the joy it brings. So take a chair and let me share, and when my lecture ends, I hope you'll try to tell me why I don't have any friends. --Kenn Nesbitt

ANSWER What happens in stanza 3? a. Remark that night is dark b. Let you know that snails are

slow c. Take a chair and let me share d. Tell you that the water’s wet

Hello, I'm Mr. Obvious. I point out things you know. I'll tell you that the water's wet. I'll say that plants can grow. I might remark that night is dark. I'll add that grass is green. And I'll repeat that sugar's sweet and washing makes you clean. I'll let you know that snails are slow, and one plus one is two, and then declare that squares are square and state the sky is blue. You see, I'm kind, so I don't mind explaining simple things. And when I do this just for you I love the joy it brings. So take a chair and let me share, and when my lecture ends, I hope you'll try to tell me why I don't have any friends. --Kenn Nesbitt

LINES

My dog plays invisible Frisbee. He catches invisible balls. He rides an invisible skateboard. He hurdles invisible walls. My dog has perfected the practice of doing invisible tricks. He jumps with invisible jump ropes and fetches invisible sticks. He barks at invisible mailmen. He growls at invisible cats. He'll bring me invisible slippers and even invisible hats. He chases invisible squirrels whenever we go for a jog. He's clearly the greatest dog ever. I love my invisible dog.

--Kenn Nesbitt

Line 1

Line 5

Line 9

Line 13

Let’s Practice! What happens in line 10? a. One plus one is two b. I’ll let you know that snails are

slow c. I’ll say that plants can grow d. I’ll add that grass is green

Hello, I'm Mr. Obvious. I point out things you know. I'll tell you that the water's wet. I'll say that plants can grow. I might remark that night is dark. I'll add that grass is green. And I'll repeat that sugar's sweet and washing makes you clean. I'll let you know that snails are slow, and one plus one is two, and then declare that squares are square and state the sky is blue. You see, I'm kind, so I don't mind explaining simple things. And when I do this just for you I love the joy it brings. So take a chair and let me share, and when my lecture ends, I hope you'll try to tell me why I don't have any friends. --Kenn Nesbitt

ANSWER What happens in line 10? a. One plus one is two b. I’ll let you know that snails are

slow c. I’ll say that plants can grow d. I’ll add that grass is green

Hello, I'm Mr. Obvious. I point out things you know. I'll tell you that the water's wet. I'll say that plants can grow. I might remark that night is dark. I'll add that grass is green. And I'll repeat that sugar's sweet and washing makes you clean. I'll let you know that snails are slow, and one plus one is two, and then declare that squares are square and state the sky is blue. You see, I'm kind, so I don't mind explaining simple things. And when I do this just for you I love the joy it brings. So take a chair and let me share, and when my lecture ends, I hope you'll try to tell me why I don't have any friends. --Kenn Nesbitt