Mimicking Poetry Structures

Last month, my junior high and high school students completed a unit on poetry. “I didn’t realize that there were so many different types of poems!” one of my students exclaimed after the first class.

Poetry is an artistic expression, so in reality, there are hundreds of types of poems. Popular writing structures include Haiku, Free Verse, Ballad, and Sonnet; however, below you will discover some more obscure poetry frames that are often looked over in the typical classroom.

These simple but fun poetry structures point out parts of speech and develop word choice. They can encourage even the most hesitant writer to try their hand at creating something wonderful and unique. Take a look at the variety of the ways poets arrange words, then create something of your own. There is an original Musing with Melie example for each.

Mimicking Poetry Structure: Preposition Poem

Prepositions poem frame:

For this poem, you need to know that a noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. You can usually use the word “the” in front of it as in “the table”. “Table” is the noun.

Click here for a printable list of prepositions.

Subject
Preposition, noun
Preposition, noun
Preposition, noun
Subject (does what?)

Preposition Poem Example #1:

Gratitude
For a gift
For a friend
For life
Gratitude means saying, “Thank you!”
– Musing with Melie 3.22

Preposition Poem Example #2:

Jetplane
In the sky,
Above the Clouds,
Under the Sun,
Jetplane leaves a faint white streak across the sky, where no one can see it but God.
– Musing with Melie 2.22

Mimicking Poetry Structure: Another Preposition Poem

Another Preposition Poem Frame:

For this poem, you need to know that a verb is an action word. A verb is something that you can “do”.

A synonym is a word that means the same as another word or phrase.

Subject
Verb+ing, Verb+ing, Verb+ing
Preposition
Preposition
Preposition
Synonym for your subject

Another Preposition Poem Example:

Ocean waves
Tumbling, Crashing, Pounding,
Along the shore,
Against the rocks,
Despite the sun,
Surf
– Musing with Melie 3.22

Mimicking Poetry Structure: Adverb Poem

For this poem, you need to know that an adverb describes how the verb is done. In this case, it usually ends in “ly”.

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. You can usually put the word “very” in front of it as in “very pretty”. Pretty is the adjective.

Adverb poem frame:

(word) + ly
(word) + ly
(word) + ly
A sentence including two adjectives, noun, verb, adverb + ly, prepositional phrase.
Noun! Noun!

Adverb Poem Example:

Family Frenzy

Frantically!
Expectantly!
The Irish-clad fans scream emotionally at the television set.
Notre Dame! Football!
– Musing with Melie 3.22

Mimicking Poetry Structure: Acrostic

Acrostic Directions:

Write the word you would like to describe vertically down the side of your paper. Use the first letter of that word to begin a new, related word. Look through a thesaurus for ideas.

Acrostic Example:

Beaches

Beckoning,
Enticing,
Abundant life,
Cove,
Habitat,
Eddy,
Sand and surf.
– Musing with Melie 3.22

Mimicking Poetry Structure: Syllable Cinquain

Syllable Cinquain Directions:

For this poem, you need to know that a syllable is a unit of pronunciation that has one vowel sound.
Make a table like the one below. Each line has a specific amount of syllables in it. Fill in the table until it sounds the way you want it to. Then write your final draft.