POETIC

What is POEM?

Poetry is usually concerned with feelings and vivid descriptions. Poems may tell a story or
reflect on something of importance to the poet. The purpose of a poem is to present a
description or a point of view, usually with thought-provoking images.

Poetry is often written to be read aloud. Sound patterns and rhythm are therefore
important to the overall impact of the poem.

Examples of a poetic texts include:

• ballads
• haiku
• limericks
• sonnets
• song lyrics
• cinquains
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Features of a POEM

Structure of a poem
Poems can be written in many different ways and have a variety of features. Some
poems use regular patterns of rhyme, rhythm and line length, while others use free verse
forms. Poems can include alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, personifications,
similes, and metaphors. The creation of imagery is always important.

Grammatical features of a poem

A wide variety of grammatical patterns are used in poetry. Common features include:
• nouns to identify specific objects, events or things
• adjectives to create better descriptions
• similes and metaphors to build images
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The POETRY scaffold

Line 1
One word that introduces the subject.
Line 2
Two words that describe the subject.

Line 3
Three words that describe the subject.
Line 4
Four words about the subject.
Line 5
One word that expresses a comment on the subject.
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MODELS OF A poEM
Grammatical features
Structures

Lizards NOUN IDENTIFYING

SUBJECT
Lizards
shiny, sleepy ADJECTIVES
CINQUAIN resting in sunshine PROVIDING
DESCRIPTIONS
look at him closely
UNUSUAL
prehistoric SENTENCE
John Anderson CONSTRUCTION
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MODELS OF A poEM
Son of Mine
Structures (To Dennis) Grammatical features

My son, your troubled eyes search mine,

SIMILE
STANZAS OF Puzzled and hurt by colour line.
FOUR LINES Your black skin soft like a velvet shine,
What can I tell you, son of mine?
ADJECTIVES
I could tell you of heartbreak, hatred blind,
REGULAR
RHYMING I could tell of crimes that shape mankind,
PATTERNS Of brutal wrong and deed malign,
Of rape and murder, son of mine; CONTRACTION

But I’ll tell instead of brave and fine

RHYTHMIC When lives of black and white entwine,
QUALITIES And men in brotherhood combine-
This would I tell you, son of mine.

Oodgeroo of the tribe Noonucal