Okay, today, let’s write one of my all-time favorite poetic forms: Cinquain. I have shared this form with a couple of variations every year that I have run this poetry challenge because I love it so much!
Although I
have enjoyed and dabbled in poetry (some rhyming and some not) all my life, it
wasn’t until I attended a poetry workshop in the late 90s and was taught a few
specific poetry forms, starting with cinquains, that I realized how fun
following a specific poetic form (like those I have been sharing with all of
you each day this month) can be.
Here is the
poem I created that night, which pretty much started me down my current poetry
path:
Comfort
Feeling secure
Where judgment has no place
Wrapped in the safety of your arms
Husband
©
1998 Stephanie Abney
That night, I was taught just one way of writing cinquains: using a specific number of syllables per line with exact requirements (subject, description, action, thoughts/feelings, and back to subject with a different word). I thought that was it, but I have since learned there are more ways to write a cinquain poem, and we may or may not get to the others this month.
This is the
most common format for Cinquain poetry. I call it “pattern 1.” Cinq is
French for FIVE. The DICTIONARY says a “cinquain” is a short poem
consisting of five, usually unrhymed lines containing,
respectively, two, four, six, eight, and two syllables.
This short
five-lined poem doesn’t have an actual title; rather, the FIRST line (two
syllables in this case) becomes the title.
It does not
rhyme, and in this version, you count the number of SYLLABLES per
line and each line has specific requirements. The first line
has 2 syllables; each line increases by 2 syllables until the last line, which
returns to 2 syllables.
RESIST the urge to add words - follow
the pattern - you'll be surprised at your results!!
1st line ~ two syllables –
the subject (or title) or your poem
2nd line ~ four syllables that describe
the title/subject
3rd line ~ six syllables that express
action
4th line ~ eight syllables that express
a thought or feeling
5th line ~ two syllables that
show a synonym for the title (restates your subject from the first
line using a different word)
As always, I suggest you use the syllable counter (even if you think you are correct – sometimes it surprises you to see how many syllables are in a word)
Here’s the
poem I wrote today for our challenge:
Feeding
The hungry soul
Comfort foods surround me
But it's the wrong type of fuel to
Nourish
©
2025 Stephanie Abney
Here’s one
more example of that form:
Poems
Feelings expressed
From down deep in my heart
So you know who I am, I’ll sing
Word Songs
©
2011 Stephanie Abney
Sad woman ~ Image by Thể Phạm Khắc from Pixabay
Wooden heart also from Pixabay
PLEASE REMEMBER ~ any poetry found on this
blog, written by me, is my personal property and may not be used without my
permission, other than sharing it as an example in a lesson or to read it to
someone. The same goes for any poems that are shared in the comments of this
blog or elsewhere online as a result of this challenge. They are the creative
property of the person who writes them. These poems are their original work and
no one may use them without their permission. It is understood that they own
the copyright to them as soon as they create them and especially once they post
them. Thanks so much!
*** Also, if you choose to
post your poems on your own blog or elsewhere on social media ~ that’s awesome.
But PLEASE don’t just copy and paste my daily instructions, but rather post
your poem on your blog or your FB wall or wherever AND LINK BACK TO EACH DAY’S
SPECIFIC BLOG POST for others to come here to read the instructions. I’ve spent
considerable time researching the poetry forms and writing them up to share
with you. Thanks for respecting my work.
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