You may also decide to revise your free verse poem so it is cut down to the shortest possible lines. Doing this will force you to keep the poem quick and brief, but still meaningful and full of emotion.
Keep in mind haiku is not a sentence broken up into three lines. Instead, each line of your haiku should stand on their own as individual thoughts, images, emotions, or responses. Your haiku should act as a snapshot that shows your reader how the speaker in the poem is feeling or what she is experiencing. Avoid telling or explaining and focus on showing instead. Examples of haiku include “Haiku Ambulance” by Richard Brautigan,[4] X Research source “The Light of a Candle” by Yosa Buson,[5] X Research source “5&7&5” by Anselm Hollo. [6] X Research source
Cinquains are a great way to write about a specific topic or idea in very few lines. You also have the option of adding or removing one syllable from each line, giving you more freedom in this form. [8] X Research source Examples of cinquains include “November Night” by Adelaide Crapsey,[9] X Research source “To Helen” by Edgar Allen Poe,[10] X Research source and “The World” by George Herbert. [11] X Research source
Limericks usually begin with the phrase “There was a…”. The line usually ends with a name, person, or place. Lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme. Lines 3 and 4 rhyme. Lines 1,2, and 5 contain 7-10 syllables and lines 3 and 4 contain 5-7 syllables. Often the last line of a limerick presents an unusual image or a strange, funny idea, similar to the punchline in a joke. Examples of limericks include “There was an Old Man with a Beard” by Edward Lear,[13] X Research source “There was a Small Boy of Quebec” by Rudyard Kipling,[14] X Research source and “A Wonderful Bird is the Pelican” by Dixon Lanier Merritt. [15] X Research source
Examples of epigraph poems include “Epigram” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge[17] X Research source and “Smoker’s Epitaph. ”
Examples of shape poetry include “Concrete Cat” by Dorthi Charles,[19] X Research source “Butterfly” by David Schondelmeyer,[20] X Research source and “Vision and Prayer” by Dylan Thomas.
For example, you may decide to write a free verse poem about a conversation you had with your teacher that day. You may put limits on yourself by having the poem be only ten lines total or five lines total. You will then need to focus on certain details to fit the conversation into ten lines.
For example, you may decide to write about the dangers of drug abuse or the dangers of smoking cigarettes. You may then envision what it might be like to be a smoker or a drug user and discuss the dangers and fears a smoker or drug user might experience.
This subject matter would be ideal for the haiku form, which often focuses on nature and the natural world. You may also try writing about nature in the cinquain form.
You may decide to use the limerick form or the epigraph poetry form for your humorous poem. These forms are a good way to organize and write about funny content quickly and effectively.
You may decide to use the form of a shape poem for this content, using your poem about the animal to fill the shape of the animal. This could allow you to create limitations around the content, as you will need to write enough lines in the poem to fill the shape of the animal.
For example, rather than describe a funny moment as “so funny I could die” or “I laughed so hard I cried”, you may try describing the moment with unfamiliar details, such as “I hooted and hollered until I ran out of breath” or “I let out a high-pitched squeal that bounced off the walls of the cafeteria. ”
For example, you may describe the feeling of standing in front of your favorite waterfall as “my face is covered in the briny thick smell of moss” or “I can taste the fresh water droplets that fall onto my face. ”
This can be a good technique if you are feeling stuck or uncertain of how to start. Forcing yourself to just write, without editing as you go, can help you to generate content that you can then pare down in your revisions.
If you are using a particular poetic form, you should make sure your poem conforms to the form. For example, if you are using haiku, you should make sure each line contains the right number of syllables and flows well as a whole. You may also want to read your poem out loud to listen for any confusing language or unclear description. Read the poem to someone you trust to get their opinion and feedback. Getting a different perspective on the poem can make it that much stronger.
