Mary Emma’s Writing Tip…Having Fun with Acrostic Poetry

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I’ve discovered that most youngsters like to write poetry, especially when it doesn’t have to rhyme.  Poetry was difficult for me when I was in school, because it was considered that true poetry must rhyme.  I couldn’t write rhymes easily.

Nowadays, there are so many types of poetry young writers (and older ones, too) can experiment with.  Acrostic poetry is one type I often write with students when I visit schools to present workshops.

An acrostic poem is free verse.  In other words, it doesn’t have to rhyme.  The first letter of each line, as you read downward, forms a word. 

Try a PUMPKIN poem.  It actually can be any word (October, Halloween, Autumn,  your name, etc.) Print PUMPKIN for your title and down the side of your page. Then fill in each letter.  It might be one word, a phrase, or a sentence.  See my example.

PUMPKIN 

Pick a pumpkin

Under the big leaves

Make a jack-o-lantern smiling

Put it on the porch

Keep it glowing with inner light

Into the darknes of the

Night.

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Now try yours.  You can use Pumpkin or other words.  Some students like to use their name.

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

(E-mail me for information about my writing workshops.)