Shape Poetry Resources – The GiggleIT Project

Some shape poems have specific rules, others use line and word spacing to create a shape that echoes the poem’s theme. To retain their specific shape and spacings, you may want to publish shape poems as pdf or other image formats, rather than word-processed documents.

Introduce shape poems as options for the “Yummy Poems” Spotlight Project in the “Food, Festivals, Fun! Welcome to Our Place theme” and the “Poetry Pet Parade” Spotlight Project in the “Animal Antics” theme.

Cinquain poems – Pronounced ‘SIN-kane’ this 5-line poetry style is centered on the page and uses this pattern – 2 syllables in the first line, 4 in the second, 6 in the third, 8 in the fourth line, and 2 in the last line.

https://www.classroompoems.com/cinquain-poetry.html

https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-a-cinquain-poem/

Concrete Poems – A concrete poem is formatted in a shape related to its subject by using line spacing and word size; rhyming is optional. Often easier for beginners to write by hand within a shape outline before typing out the poem.

https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-a-concrete-poem/

Diamante poems – A diamond-shaped poem that follows a set formula, beginning and ending with a single word. Two types: antonym or synonym. Invented by Iris McClellan Tiedt in 1969.

https://www.thoughtco.com/write-a-diamante-poem-1856956

https://www.poetry4kids.com/lessons/how-to-write-a-diamante-poem/

Shape Poetry Examples

Concrete poem, by Patricia Carmichael

Slithery

Sliddery

Slinky and

lnky my

Pet snake

Called Arnold

ls driving me

            Blinky.

He       

Lies in my

Lunchbox

And eats

All my smarties

Then calmly

  Announces

He wants

Green

Frog tarties.

Notes: Smarties = multi-coloured, chocolate candy covered with a hard, crunchy outer layer; Tarties = small tarts or fruit pies. The shape of the poem looks like a snake, and the “s” sound (alliteration) emphasizes the “snakey” theme

Author: Patricia Carmichael, Teacher Librarian, Concordia Lutheran College, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia

Diamante poem (antonym), by Katy Manck

Hot dog!

greasy, juicy

tempting, fattening, crackling

stomach, decision, willpower, diet

enticing, slimming, soothing

aromatic, lean

chicken sandwich.

Author: Katy Manck, MLS, Gilmer, Texas, USA

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