Here are some tools for writing poetry .

Insight On Poetry Form



I would like to introduce you to 22 Poetry Structures.

Some are my own and others have been established for a long time .

The guidelines and structures I am presenting here are useful tools that will give your poetry depth and inspiration. Poetry is a disciplined expression of the written word and the use of structures provide the tools of trade of poetry writing.

Poetry structures have a set of rhyming patterns, metre, grammar and imagery.

Looking back into the mists of time the origins of poetry began with structures and poets today are still following these guidelines.

The strength of poetry is having both the knowledge of structure and the ability to adapt these structures to create new forms .

Here are some forms and examples .Try to invent some yourself .

Think about words and expression .
It really is endless .
The first structure I would like to oresent is the Mirror Loop .
I created this in the early 1990's .

My first Mirror Loop , The Way Ahead was published in Colophon Magazine in 1996 .

Structure 1 –
The Mirror Loop (Paul McCann)

The structure of this poem is written so that the poem can be read from the beginning to end ,and then back again from it's end to the beginning.

The poem can be of any theme,
but must have proper meter.

The Way Ahead (1994)
Paul McCann

Sublime pools bathed in sunlight rippled,
Where words swept me in oceans deep
subconsciously.
Time after time heaven in hearts are captured .
Love flows on and on endlessly.


Endlessly on and on flows love.
Captured are hearts in heaven time after time.
Subconsciously beep oceans in me swept words,
Where rippled sunlight
in bathed pools sublime.


By Paul McCann



Structure 2 –
The Limerick

Irish soldiers on returning from war to their home town of Limerick began reciting a line of poetry to kill the time.

One by one each soldier added a line to the verse which they affectionately called The Limerick.

Edward Lear introduced the Limerick to English Poetry .

The basic rule is that lines 1, 2 and 5 rhyme, while lines 3 and 4 rhyme

Example

Old Man With a Beard -Edward Lear

There was an Old Man with a beard,
Who said, 'It is just as I feared!
Two Owls and a Hen,
Four Larks and a Wren,
Have all built their nests in my beard!'


My Examples

A Cold Woman
By Paul McCann

There once was a woman of ice .
She never knew how to be nice .
She spent all of her life , on the edge of a knife ,
cutting herself off from advice .


Great Expectations –
By Paul Mc Cann

Well now there once was a young boy called Pip,
who by chance had the misfortune to slip,
right into some bad social relations,
until he acquired great expectations
and ended up with a stiff upper lip .




Structure 3- Alphabet In Sequence

This a poem where each consecutive word begins with each consecutive letter of the alphabet from a to z .


My Example –
Spaced Out
By Paul McCann


Alien Bands Came Down Earthlings . Funny Green Headed Iggy-poppers Just Killed Lyrics . Many Nations Of People Quickly Required Songs Teaching Unbelievable Vocals With X-Men Yelling Zip-idee-doo-da !



Structure 4 Acrostic


This is a structure where the first letter of each line of the poem make a word and can be constructed as the title or theme of the poem .

My Example
Father God -
By Paul McCann

Find time each day to share. All your thoughts to him there. Talk to the Lord in prayer .
He is there and he cares . Each day he surrenders.
Responding to our prayers .

Great is the love he bears .
One love beyond compare.
Dwelling within us there .




Structure 5 - Doubled Up Acrostic


This structure I made up is called doubled up acrostic .

It is an improvisation of the Acrostic form and the following rules apply .

The first letter of each line and the last letter of each line make up the title of the poem to make a word which can be constructed as the title of the poem .


My example
God Forgives
By Paul McCann


Gods only son uponthe cross hunG .
One suffering his song a solO .
Did those who saw and heard understanD


For us who remember are in grieF . Once as it was a long time agO . Respond to the soulful song we heaR Grant us your forgiveness & healingG
Inspire the thoughts between you and I
Vocalize our songs with words of luV . Each day there is an amen we sharE . Singing praise to God who forgives uS






Structure 6 - The Kyrielle

The Kyrielle is a poem with 4 line sections.
The Kyrielle is a poem with 4 line sections.
The 4th line of each section must repeat.
There should be 16 lines in the poem and the metre of each line is of eight syllables.

My Example
Love Of My Life –By Paul McCann


If I ever forget to say ,
how I feel about you today,
remember when I said I do .
I have never stopped loving you .
When every thing seems too much,
Close your eyes and think of the touch,
Of our first kiss and say its true .
I have never stopped loving you .
I want you to know its all right ,
when I hold you and squeeze you tight ,
and surrender my heart to you .
I have never stopped loving you .
In honesty so unprepared,
We have lived together and shared .
Short is this life we're passing through
I have never stopped loving you .



Structure 7 - Sappic


This Sappic stanza, as you can see, is composed of four lines.
The first three lines, 11 syllables long .
The last line only five syllables .
In addition to its strict syllable count
the stanza also has a very particular meter .

The first three lines has two trochees,
followed by a dactyl,
followed by two more trochees .
The last line has one dactyl and one trochee.

My Example
Float On - By Paul McCann

Relax, sit back, perplexed is no way to be .
Feel free like a river running to the sea.
Peaceful thoughts in harmony with you and me .
Flow easy and free .


Structure 8 - Haiku

This structure of poetry is made up of three lines that use a specific number of syllables to portray the meaning of the poem .

Line 1 has 5 syllables .
Line 2 has 7 syllables and Line 3 has 5 syllables .

This structure was first used by monks in Tibet who adhering to vows of silence would pass on a piece of Haiku to another brother monk who in turn would answer that Haiku with another one of his own.

Some people have stated that the Haiku should portray the theme of Nature

My Examples

Fog - By Paul McCann

On the mountain top
The fog fell down thick and fast
It was like pea soup.

Rain

Tip-tap goes the rain.
As it hits the window pane
I can hear the rain.

By Paul Mc Cann



Structure 9 -

Alliteration
Definition:
The repetition of consonant sounds in words near each other.

My Examples
Dancing Dolphins - By Paul McCann Those tidal thoroughbreds that tango through the turquoise tide.

Their taut tails thrashing they twist in tribute
to the titans.

They twirl through the trek
tumbling towards the tide .

Throwing themselves towards those theatrical thespians .


Dewdrops Dancing Down Daisies
By Paul McCann

Don't delay dawns disarming display . Dusk demands daylight .
Dewdrops dwell, delicately drawing dazzling delight .

Dewdrops dilute daisies domain. Distinguished debutantes .
Diamonds defray delivered daylights distilled daisy dance .



Structure 10- Cinquain

Cinquain is a structure that uses syllables and follows these rules.

Line 1 -
2 syllables introducing the topic.

Line 2 -
4 syllables says something on the topic.

Line 3 -
6 syllables tells how it feels.

Line 4 -
8 syllables still on the topic.

Line 5 -
2 syllables finishes the topic

My Examples
Green Eyed And Greedy
- By Paul McCann

Envy.
A loss of self . The rape of innocence .
What's mine's mine,
What's yours is your own .
Pity .


Football
By Paul McCann

A game of skill.
Being Part of the team.
Its a way of life to enjoy,
Play on .


Structure 11-

Fourword Fourword is a structure I created myself and there is just one basic rule to follow .

In this structure the fourth word of each line in the poem make up the title of the poem

My Examples

God Is Only Love

by Paul McCann

So many people God are waiting for you to give them a nod .
Dear God it is a long and narrow path that you and I have trod .
I have known only one thing and that is a you are a loving God.
Walking in his love and mercy is how I have come to know God.



Have You Heard Of Davy Jones
By Paul Mc Cann

Some sinking ships have captains who must stay on board .
As lifeboats for you know in the sea are lowered,
Women and children heard someone shout - Land Ahoy .
As they thought of their loved ones grief and also joy,
For men like Davy fell in a watery grave ,
Others like Mrs Jones and all her kids were saved .





Structure 12 Tyburn

In this structure called the Tyburn the first four lines of the poem must rhyme.

They must also be descriptive words .
The last two lines of the poem must also rhyme and have the first,
second,third,and fourth lines as the 5th through 8th syllables


My Example

Graffiti Backdrops
By Paul McCann

Steamy .
Dreamy .
Creamy .
Greeny .
In graffiti's steamy dreamy scrawls,
words are left on creamy greeny walls .


Structure 13 The Sonnet

This sonnet structure is a fourteen line piece with a specific rhyming pattern and meter.

The rule is to keep to a set of alternate and/or iambic pentameter variations.

A good example of this is breaking up the stanza into an 8 - 6 verse style,
and then forming a structure as a songwriter would with a basic AABA method , i.e. Verse Verse Chorus Verse.

Using this principle the sonnet may follow a rhyming pattern such as ABBAABBA for the first 8 lines and then CDECDE and GG which permits the 14 line sonnet to be broken into 3 groups of 4 and 1 final group of 2 rhyming lines to finish.


My Example
Always In Waiting -By Paul McCann


I could tell you of a morning when the dark night has passed by,

my love everything will be all right there is no need to fear.

I would tell you everything if only you could be near.

There is a place that awaits us,beyond space, after we die .

Let me take you in my arms,let my love give you wings to fly .

I know how confused things are but someday it will all be clear .

Don't fill your head with silly notions, true love is alway here.

I could sing you love songs, recite poems but then you might cry .

I could talk about what the future holds for you and for me .

We could open a book and discover how it all begun .

I could tell you how the cross was carried up to Calvary .

I could tell you of the Father, I could tell you of the Son .

I could tell you of the Spirit, third part of the Trinity ,

there are so many things to say but I'll wait until you come .



Structure 14 Terza Rima

The rules that apply with Terza Rima pattern of rhyme are as follows

Lines 1 and 3 rhyme,
Lines 2, 4 and 6 rhyme
Line 5 rhymes with 7
and 9 and the poem then continues in this sequence.

My example

Let Your Love Be By Paul McCann


Let your love be in me ,
like a natural thing .

Let your love be a flower.
Let it grow in me.

Love be a bird in my heart
with a song to sing .

Let your love be a desert
as dry as can be.

Let your love be the rain.
pouring down from the sky .

Let your love be a storm,
let it rise up in me.

Let your love be the sunshine
aglow in my eye .

Let your love be a rainbow
for the world to see.

Love be everywhere with me .
Love never die .

Love be here with me
wherever that place shall be.



Structure 15 Diamante

A seven line poem where the theme or topic of the poem ends opposite to the opening topic. English grammar is used and the rules are as follows;

Line 1 - Name (Noun) Theme/Object

Line 2 - Two adjectives describing the noun in line 1.

Line 3 - Three participles (-in or -ed), relating to line 1 and 2 of the poem.

Line 4 - 4 nouns (2 referring to the noun in line 1 and the other 2 referring to line 7).

Line 5 - Three participles (relating to noun in line 7)

Line 6 - Two adjectives (describing the noun in line 7)

Line 7 -Noun (names the theme or object which is the opposite of the noun in line 1


My Examples

The Masters Fool -By Paul McCann

Poet - Alive writer - Gifted -skilled -inspired - bard . Prophet . Idiot -fool- Scathing -unfeeling, unskilled . Dead stupid – Nong ..



Reflection On War And Peace (2005)
(A Diamante Structure)
By Paul McCann


War A Conflict - Fight Killing – Peace Keeping – Protecting Insurgence -Unrest - Surrender -Truce – Healing – Forgiving – Living Agree - Harmony – Peace .



Structure 16 Sijo




Sijo Poem

The sijo is like the tanka, renga and haiku .
It has three lines of between 14-16 syllables each, giving a total of 44-46 syllables per sijo.



There are three basic rules to keep in mind when writing a sijo:

1. The basic structure

2. A musical image or element

3. A twist.



Mountain Meadows
By Paul McCann





No one could ever see those gentle meadows in my mind ,
through lush fields of floating thoughts I'm sure one day I will find ,
an escape to the meadows from the constant daily grind





Structure 17 – The Renga



The renga is related to the Haiku structure and follows the same syllable pattern as the tanka, ie 5-7-5-7-7.
Many monks in Tibet often communicated by using this style of poetry,
ie.the first monk would write the opening lines of the haiku and a second poet would composes the response using the pattern of 7,7, syllables

My example

Ode To Man
By Paul McCann

A living being .
A creature formed from the clay .
Made in God's image .
Man can be so beautiful.
The spirit of man that is .



Structure 18 – Crosstalk






This style of poetry uses different languages,
Keeping the theme and the rhyme .

My Example

A Romantic Air
by Paul McCann


Je t'aime yes I'm falling for France.
Mon ami . C'est la vie
Looking for romance .
Ti'amore what do you say .
Mon dieu ,Non, oui, or Qu'est- ce cue c'est .









Structure 19 – The Narrative



A narrative or story poem is a poem that tells a story.


Some narrative poems to look for are:



My Own Example - Soldier Strong - http://www.poetryscriber.com/Blog/mcscraic/Soldiers%20Strong.htm



Other examples –

'Derek in Heaven' by Benjamin Zephaniah, in his book Funky Chickens ·



'Hot Food' by Michael Rosen in his book

The Hypnotiser '



Snowball' by Shel Silverstein, in his book Falling Up .



Structure 20 – The Clerihew







This structure takes it's formation from Edmund Clerihew Bently who put these rules together in a simple four line construction of poetry .
A witty or humorous content with the theme on a biographical subject.

A Clerihew poem is a four-line humorous rhyming poem.
The following rules must apply:

Line 1 Famous person or place
Lines 2,3,4 Tell about that person or place
Lines 1,2 Rhyme together
Lines 3,4 Rhyme together



Example - The People of Spain Think Cervantes

The people of Spain think Cervantes

Equal to half-a-dozen Dantes;

An opinion resented most bitterly

By the people of Italy.

E. Clerihew Bentley





Structure 21 – The Triad





The Triad is a structure I created myself were the poem has three stanzas each with their own separate title . The common factor is that the three stanzas must be on the same theme .



My example here is



Death

By Paul McCann



Alone

When death shall come who can say ,
Go away I'm not at home .
For death is like a final knock.
We face it all alone .

Awake

Tell me have you heard of heaven,
and do they know you're there ?
This world is almost like a womb,
eternal life we'll share .

A Silence

There is no pain or anger.
I have nothing left to say.
In a place of peace,
For death has taken it all away .



Structure 22 – The Idyll





In this Idyll structure called the Idyll the poem must be of a strong image and its lyrical composition gives an account of a peaceful, romantic, or blissful scene or incident .


A Still Moment
By Paul McCann

In the garden with my baby .
We smell a rose , we touch a tree .
We see a little butterfly .
We kiss and then we say goodbye


So ends this insight into poetry for now



Lets not say goodbye , instead lets say Hello .


By Paul McCann