Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Day 29 2025 ~ Let’s write some “Rainbow poems, 3 ways” (including new format: “When I think of . . . I think of . . .”) for #NationalPoetryMonth ~ "30 poems in 30 days"

Well, poetry month is drawing to a close. This has been my 13th year running this challenge. Even though I only feature 30 poetry forms, one poetry format per day (sometimes it feels like more if that format has variations), there are nearly 200 poetry forms that I have come across in doing this. New poetry forms continue to be invented. IN FACT, I have invented one myself. And it will be one of your options today.

Two basic templates for writing about rainbows that school teachers often use are an Acrostic Poem, where you write the word “rainbow” down the left side of the paper, and each line must begin with the letter on the left. Or you can name each color in order and say something about the color or what it reminds you of, using either similes or metaphors. (A simile uses the word ‘like’ or ‘as’ to make a comparison, whereas metaphors use ‘is’ or ‘are’). I have a couple of samples from years gone by when I was teaching. And I also added the new form that I invented. It can be about anything, but I chose to write a poem about rainbows in keeping with today’s “theme.”                

 

Rainbow poems, 3 ways (including “When I think of . . . I think of . . .)

 

OK, the premise of my invented poem, “When I think of . . . I think of . . .” is that when you think of some things, they often make you think of something else. In this case, you’ll be listing various things that make you think of the SAME thing. In my example I list a number of things, with each line beginning with “When I think of ____” and ending with “I think of ______” that cause me to think of rainbows. See poem below. It can have any number of lines, but they all start the same: “When I think of ____” and then name the various things you are thinking of, but the ending of EACH sentence needs to remain constant, in this case, “I think of rainbows.” Your title will be whatever it is that you end up thinking of. (This poetry format was invented by Stephanie Abney, retired teacher and poetry instructor, in 2025).

 

<<If you wish to try out my new little format, it does NOT need to be about rainbows, that’s just what I came up today and it fit the theme I gave to today>> But, just feel free to use any subject and keep it the same ending subject with each line and state something different in the beginning each line, following the format, “When I think of”

 

                        I Think of Rainbows

When I think of new beginnings, I think of rainbows.

 When I think of a summer storm while the sun still shines, I think of rainbows.

When I think of hope, I think of rainbows.

When I think of children laughing, I think of rainbows.

When I think of the beauty of nature, I think of rainbows.

When I think of family and friends, I think of rainbows.

When I think of God’s love, I think of rainbows.

                                                 © 2025 Stephanie Abney

 











If you name each color, don’t forget your “ROY G. BIV” you learned as a kid: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.

I’ve highlighted each color for clarity’s sake.

 

                A Rainbow is . . .

 

Red is strong, like the safety of your arms

Orange is exciting, like the dawning of a new day

Yellow is soft, like a downy new chick

Green is for growth, like a plant bursting through the dirt

Blue is forever, like the ocean

Indigo is spiritual, like the conviction to do what is right

Violet is peaceful, like a newborn babe looking into your eyes

                            

                                      © 2020 Stephanie Abney


 

Here is an example of an ACROSTIC Rainbow poem:

Reaching across the sky

Announcing God’s Promise

Is a glorious rainbow

Never again will He flood the earth

Blessings are waiting just

Over the rainbow

Wait and see

                             © 2020 Stephanie Abney

 

Photo is mine, © Stephanie Abney

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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