Writing Appetizer #1 Limerick This is a limerick, a very simple poem that rhymes. There was an Old Person of Dover, Who rushed through a field of blue Clover; But some very large bees, Stung his nose and his knees, So he very soon went back to Dover. Ready to try some limericks of your own? Here are some first lines you can use to get you started if you want. He was an unusual boy There once was a very old dog A beautiful girl in my town There was a young woman whose head Two poets who couldn't agree

Writing Appetizer #2 Haiku Traditionally, haiku is written in three lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line, and five syllables in the third line. The last winter leaves Clinging to the black branches Explode into birds. The following are typical of haiku: A focus on nature. A "season word" such as "snow" which tells the reader what time of year it is. Instead of saying how a scene makes him or her feel, the poet shows the details that caused that emotion. If the sight of an empty winter sky made the poet feel lonely, describing that sky can give the same feeling to the reader.

Writing Appetizer #3 Cinquain Cinquain poems are five lines long with a certain number of syllables or words in each. Cinquain poems do not rhyme. There are many ways to write cinquain poems. Here is an example of one cinquain pattern. Line 1: Title - one word or two syllables Line 2: Description or example of the title - 2 words or four syllables Line 3: Action about the title - a 3 word phrase or six syllables Line 4: a 4 word phrase describing a feeling about the title or 8 syllables Line 5: Synonym for the title - one word - 2 syllables Line 1: Panther Line 2: Sleek, graceful Line 3: Running, hiding, emerging Line 4: Happy to be free Line 5: Cat

Writing Appetizer #4 Quatrains Quatrains are made up of four lines. The rhyming pattern can be AABB or ABAB. An example is - The Purple Cow Gelett Burgess I never saw a purple cow, I never hope to see one: But I can tell you, anyhow, I'd rather see than be one.

Writing Appetizer #5 Epitaph An Epitaph is a short poem that commemorates the death and life of an individual "Here lies Sam Shay, Smoked six packs a day. He started smoking when he was five. Now that fool is no longer alive."

Know these terms! Prosody – the vocal intonation and meter of spoken language Rhyme Scheme – the pattern of rhyming lines (ABBA, ABAB) Meter – the basic rhythmic structure in verse composed of stressed and unstressed syllables