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Poetry Packet 7th Grade Language Arts This packet contains various types of poetry. The purpose of this packet is to allow you to have fun imitating different poetic forms. Feel free to do more than one of each, but you ** must ** write and turn in one poem of each format. You will be creating your own book of poetry using ** twelve ** of these poems. Your book will also contain eight poems by other authors that you select and an explanation of why you selected these poems. Books will be typed; they will have covers, illustrations, and will be bound. You will select one or two of your poems to perform for your class. The performance will be a competition and the winners will participate in the poetry slam to be held on ______________. 1. Haiku (Set of Three) 11. Catalog poem 2. If I Were 12. Tanka 3. When I 13. Wishes and Fears 4. Acrostic 14. Imagery Poem 5. Alphabet 15. Limerick 6. Concrete 16. I Wish I 7. Definition 17. Free Verse 8. Spine Poem 18. Cinquain 9. Hold On 19. Diamante 10. Write a List 20. I am The chart below gives you the due date for each set of poems. It is up to you which order you choose to do them in. Label each poem with its type. You may or may not have a title. Follow the directions carefully for each of your chosen poems. Each poem is worth one grade and your completed poetry book will be worth three grades. Do NOT wait until the last minute- your creativity needs time to grow. Good luck and please be classroom appropriate.

*Answer these questions: Why do you like this poem? What does it mean to you? What are you favorite lines and why? Which elements of poetry are found in this poem? Why did you pick this poem? ** Haiku—Set of Three ** Haiku is a short, unrhymed poem based on a single image. Traditional Japanese Haiku focused on nature but you don’t have to. The poems are 3 lines with a 5-7-5 pattern. This means 5 syllables in the first line, 7 syllables in the second line, and 5 syllables in the last line. Example:
 * Date Due || What is due? || Notes about assignment ||
 * || Five poems || Select 3 to revise and perfect for your book ||
 * || Five poems || Select 3 to revise and perfect for your book ||
 * || Five poems || Select 3 to revise and perfect for your book ||
 * || Five poems || Select 3 to revise and perfect for your book ||
 * || Your 8 favorites by other poets || Select 8 poems by 8 different poets; explain why you selected the poem to include in your book*. ||
 * || Poetry Slam || Perform for students on all teams ||
 * || Your book || Completed poetry book to be turned in ||

 In the Chinese vase Flowers lose petals softly Waiting for water Or School in the winter Is fine but then the sun comes And I want to play 

If you choose the Haiku form, you must do a set of at least three that have a common theme.
 * If I Were **

 If I Were in Charge of the World ~Judith Viorst If I were in charge of the world I’d cancel oatmeal, Monday mornings, Allergy shots, and also Sara Steinberg. If I were in charge of the world There’d be brighter night lights, Healthier hamsters, and Basketball baskets forty-eight inches lower. If I were in charge of the world You wouldn’t have lonely. You wouldn’t have clean. You wouldn’t have bedtimes, or “Don’t punch your sister.” You wouldn’t even have sisters. If I were in charge of the world A chocolate sundae with whipped Cream and nuts would be a vegetable. All 007 movies would be G, And a person who sometimes forgot to brush, And sometimes forgot to flush, Would still be allowed to be In charge of the world.

Write your own poem using the format below. If I were in charge of the world I’d cancel _________________, ___________________, ___________________, and also _________________. If I were in charge of the world There would be ________________, ________________, and ____________________________. If I were in charge of the world You wouldn’t have _______________. You wouldn’t have _______________. You wouldn’t have _______________, or “_____________________.” You wouldn’t even have _____________. If I were in charge of the world __________________________ would be a vegetable. ______________________________ And a person who sometimes forgot to ________________, And sometimes forgot to ___________, Would still be allowed to be in charge of the world. 

How to write it: Begin each line with When I. . . Make a list of things you see, hear, read, feel, etc. that bother or disturb you. You must have a minimum of eight lines. After completing your list add the last line: “I stand up” or “I will stand up” Examples: “miss rosie” by Lucille Clifton // When I See // // When I see abuse. // // When I see hunger. // // When I see pain. // // When I see fear. // // When I see apathy toward learning. // // When I see a disgust for knowledge. // // When I hear hatred // // When I hear apathy // // I will stand up. // 1299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069** Acrostic poem: ** Take a word (at least 7 letters long) and create a poem that has to do with that word by creating a line beginning with each letter of the word  ** Alphabet Poem ** Alphabet poems have 26 lines, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. They are written about one them or topic. Sometimes they rhyme, but they don’t have to.
 * When I . . . **
 * L **ife whispers by like a dream.
 * I ** hear the sounds of laughter.
 * S **ounds of friends playing
 * T **hen growing and leaving.
 * E **ven though they are friends now
 * N **othing lasts forever, so listen.
 * I **n the distance
 * N **o one stays forever. They’re
 * G **one before you know it.

 Sample:

Up, Up, and Away!

Airplanes, airplanes go Back and forth Covering the landscape of our Dear planet Earth Flying high above the Ground to soaring new Heights In all types of weather Just perfect or a Kind of cloudy night Lifting its wings Moving through the air Never staying still Over our heads Pilots bring us Quickly to our destinations Rome, Japan, and other Special places Traveling is my Ultimate favorite activity Vanishing off to a new place Wishing I could fly every day eXciting things to see and do Yelling with enthusiasm Zipping across the country

Write your alphabet poem using the format below:

Title: ____________________________

A_______________________________ B_______________________________ C_______________________________ D_______________________________ E_______________________________ F_______________________________ G_______________________________ H_______________________________ I_______________________________ J_______________________________ K_______________________________ L_______________________________ M_______________________________ N_______________________________ O_______________________________ P_______________________________ Q_______________________________ R_______________________________ S_______________________________ T_______________________________ U_______________________________ V_______________________________ W_______________________________ X_______________________________ Y_______________________________ Z_______________________________ 

A concrete poem is a poem that forms a picture of the topic or follows the contours of a shape that is suggested by the topic.
 * Concrete Poems **

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 * Definition Poem **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> A definition poem defines something using metaphors. It is much more interesting that a regular dictionary definition. Definition poems generally use free verse and sometimes have repetition.

Samples: Dancing is beautiful movement across the floor Dancing is freedom of the soul It is unique self expression

Dance brings out emotion Dance is communication It speaks in ways words cannot express

Dancing is poetry in motion Dancing is liberation of the mind Dancing is my life

Fear By: John C. Fear is the monster in the closet. Fear is the bully at your school. Fear is the horrible germs in your toilet, And fear is the beast in the darkness in your imagination.

Write your own definition poem with at least 3 stanzas of at least 3 lines each. Must be free verse, have at least two metaphors, and at least four words or phrases of repetition.
 * 12990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069~ **


 * Spine Poem

** Take the title of your favorite book (or movie or song) that ** is 5 words (or more) ** ** long ** and use each of the words as the beginning of a line in your instant poem. For example, use the instant poetry form below to make a spine poem using the book title, **Where the Wild Things Are.** The sample is for the book **The Old Man and the Sea.**
 * Directions: **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * Where** do I go when I need someone to talk to?
 * The** only place I can think of is a
 * Wild** forest filled with creatures and
 * Things** that bring me peace because they
 * Are** all in my imagination

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * The ** mermaid lived in an
 * old ** boat under the waves, where no
 * man ** swam, only dolphins
 * and ** giant squid. She often watched
 * the ** waves roll and sang haunting
 * sea ** chanties all night long.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 18pt;"> ** Hold On **

Line 1: Hold on Line 2: Hold on to Line 3: Even if Line 4: Hold on to Line 5: Even if Line 6: Hold on to Line 7: Even if Line 8: Hold on to Line 9: Even if Line 10: Hold on to Line 11: Even when Sample: Hopi Prayer Hold on to what is good Even if it’s a handful of earth. Hold on to what you believe Even if it’s a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do Even if it’s a long way from here Hold on to your life Even if it’s easier to let go Hold on to my hand Even when I’ve gone away from you. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">

Write your ** Hold on ** poem using the format below:

Line 1: Hold on _______________________________ Line 2: Hold on to _______________________________ Line 3: Even if _______________________________ Line 4: Hold on to_______________________________ Line 5: Even if _______________________________ Line 6: Hold on to _______________________________ Line 7: Even if _______________________________ Line 8: Hold on to _______________________________ Line 9: Even if _______________________________ Line 10: Hold on to _______________________________ Line 11: Even when_______________________________

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 18pt;"> ** Write a List Poem ** **Directions:** Some of the most interesting poems are nothing more than lists of things. Start by thinking of an interesting place in your house that has an unusual assortment of things in it to write about. Consider one of these suggestions (What’s on the top shelf of my closet? What’s under my bed? What’s in corner of the basement? What’s in the pocket of my winter coat? What’s in that old box in the garage? What’s in the kitchen junk drawer?) or come up with one of your own. Make that your opening line. The rest of the poem is just a list of the items you find there.

Method:
Line 1 // What’s in the // name the place Line 2 name and describe item one Line 3 name and describe item two Line 4 name and describe item three Line 5 name and describe item four Line 6 name and describe item five Line 7 name and describe item six Line 8 name and describe item seven Line 9 name and describe item eight

Sample:
What’s in the kitchen junk drawer One bag of AA batteries from 1984 A Scotch tape dispenser that doesn’t Pieces of curly, dried out contact paper Twisty ties that never will again Stained Domino’s Pizza menus Expired coupons and old Acme receipts Sticky pennies Dusty tic tacs melted onto a paper clip

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ** Catalog Poem ** = A catalog poem is a list of things about one topic. It can be any length. Walt Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing” is a catalogue poem. What is the topic? = = = I hear America singing, the varied carols I hear; Those of mechanics, each one singing his, as it should be, blithe and strong; The carpenter singing his, as he measures his plank or beam, The mason singing his, as he makes ready for work, or leaves off work; The boatman singing what belongs to him in his boat, the deckhand singing on the steamboat deck; The shoemaker singing as he sits on his bench, the hatter singing as he stands; The wood-cutter's song, the ploughboy's, on his way in the morning, or at the noon intermission, or at sundown; The delicious singing of the mother, or of the young wife at work, or of the girl sewing or washing, Each singing what belongs to her, and to none else; The day what belongs to the day—at night, the party of young fellows, robust, friendly, Singing, with open mouths, their strong melodious songs. = = = Another sample, about spring: = = = = Spring = = Snow quickly melting  = = Air slowly warming  = = Trees coming to life  = = Flowers budding  = =  = =  Birds sweetly singing  = = Baseball season starting  = = Everything turning green  = = My favorite time of year  = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 24pt;"> = Tanka Poem Sample: = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Line 1: five syllables Friday afternoon Line 2: seven syllables Blue screen of death server crash Line 3: five syllables Precious data gone Line 4: seven syllables Do it over and over Line 5: seven syllables Never forget to back up <span style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.5pt; border: none; display: block; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"><span style="border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext 1.5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;">
 * I Hear America Singing **
 * Wishes and Fears**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> Wishes and Fears poems are about things that we fear and things we wish for. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">

Line 1: I am afraid of Line 2: I am afraid of Line 3: I am afraid that Line 4: I am afraid that Line 5: I am even afraid

Line 6: I am afraid of Line 7: I am afraid of Line 8: I am afraid that Line 9: I am afraid that Line 10: I am even afraid

Line 11: I want Line 12: I want Line 13: I want Line 14: I want Line 15: I even want

Line 16: I want Line 17: I want Line 18: I want Line 19: I want Line 20: And I want Line 21: Most of all

Sample:

I am afraid of spiders I am afraid of lightning strikes I am afraid that the milk has gone bad I am afraid that the well will run dry I am even afraid I might show up ten minutes late I am afraid of final exams I am afraid of making speeches I am afraid that my math may be wrong I am afraid that I'll say a bad word I am even afraid of the dark

I want friends who smile back I want fresh fruits and vegetables I want fewer reruns on summer TV I want 50% off sales I even want to read books with happy endings

I want to laugh I want to sing I want to dance I want to get the joke And I want to be here Most of all <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 18pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ** Imagery Poem **

An imagery poem is a poem that describes a topic using imagery (sight, sound, feel and taste).

Sample:

sage-covered desert freshness of the early morning scream of the fearless hawk caress of a cool breeze sweet dew of the wind new day is born

Write your imagery poem using the format below:

Step 1 Think of a place that is special. Form an image of the place in your mind. Write six sentences in the following order. I see _______________________________ I smell_______________________________ I hear_______________________________ I feel_______________________________ I taste_______________________________ I think_______________________________

Step 2: After you have written the sentences, remove the “I (blank) the” at the beginning of each line. Rewrite your poem here.

_______________________________ _______________________________  _______________________________  _______________________________  _______________________________  _______________________________ <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">
 * Limerick **

A limerick is a silly or humorous poem that tells a story. It follows a specific pattern and the first two lines must start in with “There once was a …” and “Who..”. Each line contains a precise number of syllables and limericks have a specific rhyme scheme of AABBA.

Write two

Line 1 7-8 syllables A There once was a…. Line 2 7-8 syllables A Who…. Line 3 4-6 syllables B Line 4 4-6 syllables B Line 5 7-8 syllables A

Sample: There once was a man from Peru 8 syllables Who dreamed he was eating his shoe 8 syllables He awoke in the night 6 syllables With a terrible fright 6 syllables To find that his dream had come true. 8 syllables

By Kimberly C. There once was a girl named Crystal 8 Who wanted to learn how to whistle 8 Her lips got too tight 5 And she ruined her sight 5 She got mad and blew up a missile 8

1299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ** I Wish I **

Method: Line 1: I wish I Line 2: Like Line 3: And I dream Line 4: I am Line 5: I used to  Line 6: But now I  Line 7: I seem to  Line 8: But I'm really

Sample:

I wish I could sing Like Sheryl Crow And I dream sad story songs I am hitting high notes I used to softly hum along But now I've found her voice in mine I seem to be a mimic But I'm really uniquely me <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">


 * Free Verse **

Free Verse is an irregular form of poetry written without a regular rhythmical pattern or meter. The poet is free to write lines of any length or with any number of stresses, or beats; stanzas can be any length or size. Free verse allows you to explore the language. Samples: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> By Taylor Barrett As I walk down the street I notice the trees. The trees have hundreds of shades of green. I notice lime green, muck green, and pastel green. Sometimes I think the trees were painted. The long brown stick that holds green jewels on it. If they were painted, each leaf individual. I love how there is no such thing as a perfectly straight tree. Trees are long and bumpy or small and smooth. They are like people. Short, fat, long, skinny, and live and Die. Trees.

By Seth McLeod the whitestreaks launch through the s k y   igniting anything intheway followed by a   B O O M ! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">

Write a free verse poem of at least 6 lines. Cinquain <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">The traditional cinquain is based on a syllable count. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">line 1 - 2 syllables line 2 - 4 syllables line 3 - 6 syllables line 4 - 8 syllables line 5 - 2 syllables <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-outline-level: 4; page-break-after: avoid; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">Treefrogs in my drainpipe serenading their lovers delight in keeping me awake at night <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-outline-level: 4; page-break-after: avoid; text-autospace: none;">Shining Secret <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">Moonbeams Lighting the sea On a still cloudless night Illuminate the sea horses At play <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-outline-level: 4; page-break-after: avoid; text-autospace: none;">They Won! <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">Players, Proud and joyful Take a well deserved rest. Dedication and sacrifice Paid off. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> 1299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069129902806912990280691299028069 <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-outline-level: 3; page-break-after: avoid; text-autospace: none;">**Diamante** <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">The diamante is fun and easy to write. The purpose is to go from the subject at the top of the diamond to another totally different (and sometimes opposite) subject at the bottom. The structure is: <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">line 1 - one noun (subject #1) line 2 - two adjectives (describing subject #1) line 3 - three participles (ending in -ing, telling about the subject #1) line 4 - four nouns (first two related to the subject #1, second two related to subject #2) line 5 - three participles (ending in -ing, telling about subject #2) line 6 - two adjectives (describing subject #2) line 7 - one noun (subject #2)

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-outline-level: 4; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"> **Devil Child** <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"> demon, wicked, evil, tempting, provoking, vexing, adversary, fiend, angel, saint, caring, sharing, loving, sweet, innocent, cherub <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-outline-level: 4; page-break-after: avoid; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"> **Cat and Dog** <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"> Cat curious stuck-up hissing scratching fighting opinionated hunter companionable friend barking tail-wagging fetching loyal faithful Dog <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">** I Am ** <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"> I am (Two special characteristics the person or thing has) I wonder (something the person or thing could actually be curious about) I hear (an imaginary or actual sound) I see (an imaginary or actual sight) I want (a desire) I am (the first line of the poem is repeated) I pretend (something the person or thing could actually pretend to do) I feel (a feeling about the imaginary) I touch (an imaginary touch) I worry (something that could really bother the person or thing) I cry (something that could make the person or thing sad) I am (the first line of the poem is repeated) I understand (something the person or thing knows to be true) I say (something the person or thing believes in) I dream (something the person or thing could actually dream about) I try (something the person or thing could make an effort to do) I hope (something the person or thing could hope for) I am (the first line of the poem repeated) <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 2.5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">Example: I am polite and kind I wonder about my kids’ future I hear a unicorn’s cry I see Atlantis I want to do it all over again I am polite and kind I pretend I am a princess I feel an angel’s wings I touch a summer’s cloud I worry about violence I cry for my Gram I am polite and kind I understand your love for me  I say children are our future I dream for a quiet day I try to do my best I hope for the success of my children I am polite and kind <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-align: center; text-autospace: none;"> ** More Challenging Forms  ** <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">Try your hand at one or more of these more difficult poetic forms. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">** Villanelle ** <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo12; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · The lines are grouped into six stanzas. The first five are three lines long (called // tercet //), the last is four lines (// quatrain //). <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo12; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Lines may be of any length. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo12; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · The Villanelle has two rhymes. The rhyme scheme is // aba //, with the same end-rhyme for every first and last line of each tercet and the final two lines of the quatrain. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo12; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Two of the lines are repeated: <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l8 level2 lfo12; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> o The first line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the second and the fourth stanzas, and as the second-to-last line in the concluding quatrain. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l8 level2 lfo12; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> o The third line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the third and the fifth stanzas, and as the last line in the concluding quatrain. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"> The pattern of line-repetition is: A1 b A2 - Lines in first tercet. a b A1 - Lines in second tercet. a b A2 - Lines in third tercet. a b A1 - Lines in fourth tercet. a b A2 - Lines in fifth tercet. a b A1 A2 - Lines in final quatrain. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo13; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · The lines of the first tercet are represented by "A1 b A2", because the first and third lines rhyme and will be repeated later in the poem. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo13; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · The first line of each subsequent stanzas is shown as "a" because it rhymes with those two lines. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 1.0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo13; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · The second line ("b") is not repeated but the second line of each subsequent stanzas rhymes with that line. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"> Example: See “One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop Mad Girl's Love Song Sylvia Plath

I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead; I lift my lids and all is born again. (I think I made you up inside my head.)

The stars go waltzing out in blue and red, And arbitrary darkness gallops in: I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I dreamed that you bewitched me into bed And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane. (I think I made you up inside my head.)

God topples from the sky, hell's fires fade: Exit seraphim and Satan's men: I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead.

I fancied you'd return the way you said. But I grow old and I forget your name. (I think I made you up inside my head.)

I should have loved a thunderbird instead; At least when spring comes they roar back again. I shut my eyes and all the world drops dead. (I think I made you up inside my head.)

<span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">** Sonnet ** It must consist of 14 lines. It must be written in iambic pentameter (duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH). It must be written in one of various standard rhyme schemes. If you're writing the most familiar kind of sonnet, the Shakespearean, the rhyme scheme is this: A  B   A   B   <span style="height: 112px; left: 0px; margin-left: 187px; margin-top: 12px; position: absolute; width: 292px; z-index: 251658240;">
 * || You'll notice this type of sonnet consists of three quatrains (four line stanza) and one couplet (two consecutive rhyming lines of verse).

|| || C D  C   D   E   F   E   F   G   G  A sonnet is also an argument. Like an essay, it builds up a certain way. How it builds up is related to its metaphors and how it moves from one metaphor to the next. In a Shakespearean sonnet, the argument builds up like this: First quatrain: introduction of the main theme and main metaphor. Second quatrain: Theme and metaphor extended or complicated. Third quatrain: a twist or conflict, often introduced by a "but" Couplet: Summarizes and leaves the reader with a new, concluding image. Sonnet 18 William Shakespeare Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate. Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer's lease hath all too short a date. Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest, Nor shall death brag thou wanderest in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou growest. So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee. <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"> <span style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 5.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">** Sestina ** <span style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · The lines are grouped into six sestets (a six line stanza) and a concluding tercet. There are 39 lines. <span style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · Lines may be of any length. Their length is usually consistent in a single poem. <span style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · The six words that end each of the lines of the first stanza are repeated in a different order at the end of lines in the next five stanzas. The pattern is given below. <span style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · The repeated words are unrhymed. <span style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · The first line of each sestet after the first ends with the same word as the one that ended the last line of the sestet before it. <span style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo14; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;"> · In the closing tercet, each of the six words are used, with one in the middle of each line and one at the end. The pattern of word-repetition is as follows, where the words that end the lines of the first sestet are represented by the numbers "1 2 3 4 5 6": 1 2 3 4 5 6 - End words of lines in first sestet. 6 1 5 2 4 3 - End words of lines in second sestet. 3 6 4 1 2 5 - End words of lines in third sestet. 5 3 2 6 1 4 - End words of lines in fourth sestet. 4 5 1 3 6 2 - End words of lines in fifth sestet. 2 4 6 5 3 1 - End words of lines in sixth sestet. (6 2) (1 4) (5 3) - Middle and end words of lines in tercet. One way of writing a sestina is to choose your 6 end words before you even begin the poem. Say, for instance, "book," "town," "pumpkins," "watch," "potatoes," and "sling." These are your 6 words in order of stanza one. Write a sestina. A second way is to just write a sestet and go from there, using each of the end words from that stanza. Examples include: “Six Words” by Lloyd Schwartz “Let Me Count the Waves” by Sandra Beasley “A Miracle for Breakfast” by Elizabeth Bishop