Concrete Poetry: The Shaping of a Poem.

A concrete poem is one who’s shape matches the content of the poem. It is also called shaped poetry or shaped verse. How do you create a concrete poem?

Here are the steps to create your own concrete poem. 1. Choose a text for your poem. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! I chose: Jane Taylor 1806.

2. Choose a shape to represent your poem. I chose a music note because this is a children’s song.

How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. T w i n k l e T w i n k l e T w i n k l e T w i n k l e Twinkle Twinkle Jane Taylor 1806 Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are! Jane Taylor Twinkle, little star, Twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Here’s how it all comes together! 3. Arrange the text to make the picture you want it to represent.

This style works with or without the star graphic I see tonight, "Star light, star bright," By Anonymous Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish tonight. Source: The Dorling Kindersley Book of Nursery Rhymes (2000) Star light, star bright, First star I wish I may, I wish I might, Have this wish I wish tonight. by Anonymous "Star light, star bright," Here are some more examples.

Trees by Joyce Kilmer I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest Against the earth's sweet flowing breast; A tree that looks at God all day, And lifts her leafy arms to pray; A tree that may in summer wear A nest of robins in her hair; Upon whose bosom snow has lain; Who intimately lives with rain. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree.

Now it is your turn. Choose your favorite poem and experiment with different shapes. The result are all up to you!

References Dictionary.com (2014) Retrieved from: Clipart from Microsoft Office clipart library Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star lyrics retrieved from: 3.htm 3.htm Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star audio retrieved from:

References Star Light, Star Bright retrieved from: Kilmer, J. Trees (1913) Retrieved from: