Day 1 ~ How to write a “Naani Poem” for #NationalPoetryMonth ~ "30 poems in 30 days."
Welcome to National Poetry Month 2026!! This is the 14th
year I have offered this poetry challenge – “30 poems in 30 days.” Some of you
have participated with me for many years. Others are brand new. I want to explain
just a little bit about how this works for those who are new, and after that,
I’ll explain our poetic form for Day 1. Cheers!!
There are many forms of poetry. Too many people claim they
cannot write poetry, but I beg to differ. That is why I started this challenge:
to teach others how to write a variety of poems with easy-to-follow
instructions. So far, I have found more than a hundred different poetry “forms”
and have featured most of them over the years. This challenge is fun and easy –
even kids can and do join in. If life is crazy, skip a day or two, but try to
jump back in as soon as you can!
Most of the poems we will do this month have rather
specific rules. This is a good thing. They are a guide and can help you express
yourself in the most unexpected ways, but then again, when you write poetry,
you can also break the rules if it serves the poem. However, for the purpose of our time together, I
recommend that you avoid breaking the rules. Following them will teach you
several different ways to write poetry. You can always break them later, on
your own.
Okay,
let’s get started ~ this is a very simple poetry form that comes from India.
"Naani" is one of India's most popular poetry forms. "Naani" basically means an "expression of one and all." It was created by a well-known Indian poet, Dr. N. Gopi, the vice-chancellor of Telugu University.
There are only TWO rules to this poem –
It is FOUR lines long, no more, no less.
And when you count up ALL of the syllables in ALL four
lines, there should be AT LEAST 20 syllables and NO MORE than 25 syllables.
And there is no rhyming required, but of course, you are free to rhyme whenever you wish. Either way . . .
Sounds easy enough, but accomplishing that may be harder than you think.
Although no subject matter requirements are suggested, from everything I have read, Naani poems generally are about relationships, the current state of affairs, the human condition, and emotions. So, basically, you're wide open here.
One more thing, the first line usually - but not always - states the subject of the poem.
I highly suggest you use that handy, dandy free online syllable counter ~ all you have to do is plop your entire 4-line poem into the box, click the "Count Syllables" bar at the bottom, and it will count them for you - remember you are looking to have at least 20 but no more than 25 syllables per Naani poem. Cheers!
How Many
Syllables - Free Online Syllable Counter
So, here are two examples I wrote for today:
I think of the Savior,
And what He sacrificed for me.
May I be worthy of such love.
© Stephanie Abney 2026
My grandchildren
Grow, play, and learn,
They bring me so much joy!
© Stephanie Abney 2026
Online contention,
Judging what you may not really know,
Pitting friend against friend,
Needs to stop.
© Stephanie Abney 2025
Photo credit: I purchased this digital art print of the Savior by Doyle Welborn, owner of BigThicketEnterprise (Etsy)
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.
