Garden Poetry - Youth Activity

Haiku Example:

Tall beautiful trees
Wind moving the leaves gently
large limbs stretching Up

Poetry provides a way to express your feelings and describe everyday things in a unique and personal way. Try writing in one of this poetry styles:

Haiku:

Haiku is a type of poetry that originated in Japan. This poem has three lines; that have five, seven and five syllables each. With this style of poem you want to describe an object or subject in just a few words. Select an object, subject or place and describe how it makes you feel or what you hear and see.

First line: five syllables

Second line: seven syllables

Third line: five syllables

Cinquain:

Cinquain (pronounced sin-cane) is a five line poem that describes and expresses your feelings about a certain subject. Cinquain poems are easily written, often without the writer knowing they are writing poetry.

Take a piece of paper and draw the following blank lines:

__________

__________   __________ 

__________   __________   __________

__________   __________   __________   __________ 

__________

Follow these directions to write your Cinquain poem:

• Line 1: Pick a subject, name it with one word
• Line 2: Describe the subject with two words
• Line 3: Use three words to describe what the subject does
• Line 4: Write four words for how you feel about the subject
• Line 5: Write another word (one word) for the subject

Example:

Flower

Colorful  Beautiful 

Bloom  Decorate  Attract

Admire  Love  Enjoy  Appreciate 

Blossom

Parents & Students: Consider the University of Nebraska-Lincoln