How to Write a Poem

Poetry

CHARACTER POEM WORKSHEET

NAME DATE

Fill in the blanks with a several words or phrases about the character. Be creative and descriptive. Give as much information as you can.

(first name of character)______________________________________________

Lives in ____________________________________________________________

where ______________________________________________________________

Hears _________________________________________________________________,

Sees __________________________________________________________________,

Touches _______________________________________________________________,

Needs _________________________________________________________________,

Fears _________________________________________________________________,

Gives _________________________________________________________________,

Wonders ______________________________________________________________,

Dreams _______________________________________________________________,

Believes ______________________________________________________________,

Loves ______________________________________________________________and

Is ___________________________________________________________________.

(last name of character) __________________________________________________.

Now, choose the best lines you wrote. (Choose at least 6) Rewrite on lined paper as a poem about the character.

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.

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

Top of Form

WHAT’S IN THE ________________________________________________

LINE               NAME             DESCRIBE

1                                                                                                                                             

2                                                                                                                                             

3                                                                                                                                             

4                                                                                                                                             

5                                                                                                                                             

6                                                                                                                                             

7                                                                                                                                             

8                                                                                                                                             

9                                                                                                                                             

Writing a Sonnet

 14-line poem

 10 syllables in each line

4 sections to the poem                                    Rhyme Scheme                                                           

• 1^st Quatrain-4 lines               a-b-a-b                  line1 rhymes with line 3

                                                                                           line 2 rhymes with line 4

• 2^nd Quatrain-4 lines               c-d-c-d                                             
• 3^rd Quatrain-4lines                 e-f-e-f
• The Couplet-2 lines                 g-g                          the final two lines rhyme

1. Choose a subject for the poem_______________________________.

2. Make a list of as many words as you can think of that relate to the subject or person in your sonnet.

3. Now try to find rhyming words for your list.

4. Write lines 1 and 3 together.

5. Remember to count your syllables.   

• When you have too many syllables, take out small unnecessary words like (the, and, a, an, his, she, it)
• When you don’t have enough syllables add small words.

6. Write lines 2 and 4 together.

7. Put the lines in order.

Subject-Don Haskins

List of words                            Rhymes                                   

Start five                                   jive, hive

Discrimination (5)                      nation(2), dedication(4)

Texas heat                               feet, sleet, meet, meat, defeat

Best                                          jest, lest

Coach                                       poach, roach,

Gambler                                    rambler

Pool                                          cool, fool

Honesty                                    integrity

Man                                         hand, land, fan, can, band

Black                                       lack, fact, hack, smack

White                                       fight, right, might,

Basketball(3)                            hall, ball, fall, mall, call

WRITE LINES 1 AND 3 TOGETHER

Line 1---Don Haskins dared to play five blacks, his best

Line 3---To start the lesser men would be in jest

WRITE LINES 2 AND 4 TOGETHER

Line 2---A tournament seen across the nation

Line 4---Crashing through racial discrimination.

NOW PUT THE LINES IN ORDER.

Don Haskins dared to play five blacks, his best

A tournament seen across the nation

To start the lesser men would be in jest

Crashing through racial discrimination.

By nature, hard-working, dedication,                               

Coach, ethical, moral, an honest man.

No black, no white, no discrimination.           

Loudly his actions would ring through our land.

Always a challenge, always a gambler

El Paso basketball, the Texas heat

Loyal to Texas, never a rambler

Prejudice, racism now in defeat

A coach of distinction with honesty

A man, Texas legend, integrity.