Issue 5.2 - some poetry forms
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Welcome to Issue 5, Part 2 of WHISPERshout Magazine--featuring poetry by kids ages 4-12. Maybe that's you! If you would like to see your poem published here at our magazine, click the button below to send us an email with YOUR poem attached. We can't wait to read your work!
A poem can have any shape, structure or idea. Sometimes a poet uses a shape, structure or idea just once, and sometimes certain poetry shapes, structures or ideas are used again and again by many people. These are called poetry forms. Sometimes we know who invented a certain poetry form, and sometimes they’re like folk tales—folks have been making poems using these forms that no one knows who first invented it!
Braden’s eagle poem below follows a poetry form invented by Bobbi Katz called “Things to Do.” You can read one of her famous ones here, and there’s a whole book of them by Elaine Magliaro called THINGS TO DO.
“Things to do if you’re an Eagle” by Brayden - 3rd grade, LA
In the next poem, Avalyn has tried out two poetry forms in one! The first is a haiku, a traditional 3-line form from Japan. You can read more about haiku here. The second form is a sonnet (and there are many sonnet forms too). Sonnets have 14 lines divided into different groups or stanzas. How many lines does Avalyn’s poem have? How many stanzas?
“"The Performance" by Avalyn - 3rd grade, LA
Here is a popular poetry form called an acrostic. Can you figure out how an acrostic works by reading this one by a 2nd grader? (Maybe you already knew!)
"Ocean" by Christian W. - 2nd grade, MD
Finally, below you’ll find that Adelyn has written a poem by following the form of another poet’s poem. Yes, that is allowed! All artists, including poets, get ideas from other artists. What is not allowed is taking big pieces of someone else’s work and pretending it is yours alone. Adelyn has used respectful good manners and told everyone that she has written her poem “after” Leslie Helakoski’s poem.
“Do You LIke What I Like"?” by Adelyn - 4th grade, LA
Will you be writing today? Will you make up your own form for your poem—which is called free verse—or will you follow a poetry form? Whatever you choose, remember—You Are the Boss of Your Poem.
That's our four poems for this issue. Let us know what you liked by leaving a comment below!
Come on back for Issue 5.3, which will publish on Wednesday, May 18. And remember, you can submit YOUR work by email--just click the button below--and thanks for WHISPERshouting with us!
The Editorial Staff
