Look in the Mythic Mirror

Pattern Poetry

 

Haiku ]|[ Cinquain ]|[ Diamante

Haiku

Haiku poetry has three lines with a total of 17 syllables. Its subject matter is usually something about nature. The syllables are arranged in the pattern:
  1. 5 syllables
  2. 7 syllables
  3. 5 syllables

Cinquain

Cinquain means five-line verse, just as quatrain means four-line verse. A Cinquain poem is a good way to approach a serious subject in a brief fashion. It has five lines using the pattern outlined by this example by Adelaide Crapsey:

    1. two-syllable line
    Just now
    2. four-syllable line
    out of the strange
    3. six-syllable line
    still dusk -- as strange as still --
    4. eight-syllable line
    A white moth flew. Why am I grown
    5. two-syllable line

    So cold?
Diamante

A poem in Diamante form has seven lines, (shaped like a diamond) with syllables arranged as in the example below. The object is for the last word to be related to the first word, having been transformed from small to large. Note that the fourth line has 2 words that are synonyms for line 1 and two words that are synonyms for line 7.

1. noun
Fire
2. adjectives
smoldering hot
3. ing
burning flaming smoking
4. 2 wds, 2 wds
conflagration flame woman goddess
5. ing
opening guessing wondering
6. adjectives
lovely curious
7. noun
Pandora

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