How To-10: "How to Write a Cinquain Poem"

How to Write a Cinquain Poem

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A cinquain is a five line stanza poem with two syllables in the first line, four in the second, six in the third, eight in the fourth, and two in the fifth. It can vary anywhere from love poems to stories. Cinquains can be about anything that your heart desires.

Steps

1. Decide what the main theme of your poem is going to be. For this article, the example is "My Beautiful Lakehouse."
   
2. Come up with your first line. This will consist of two syllables and a subject or noun. For example, the first line of my cinquain poem will be, "Lakehouse".
   
3. Come up with your second line. It should consist of four syllables with the words as adjectives. The second line of the example is: "Charming escape."
   
4. Think of your third line. This must consist of six syllables with the words as verbs. The third line of the example is: "Soothing, steady, mending."
   
5. Prepare the fourth line. This should have eight syllables with the words as a feeling or complete sentence. The fourth line of the example is: "Tranquil days and beautiful sunsets."
   
6. Come up with your fifth and final line to complete your poem. It should consist of two syllables. The example's fifth line is: "Lakehouse". You don't always have to repeat the first line, but it should sum up your poem.
   
7. Take a look at your poem, making any revisions or changes needed. The poem created by way of example in this article is:
   
   • Lakehouse
     
   • Charming escape
     
   • Soothing, steady, mending
     
   • Tranquil days and beautiful sunsets.
     
   • Lakehouse
     
   
   

Tips

• Cinquain poems have different rhythms and don't always have to rhyme, but you can add rhyming to create a more noticeable "beat" in your poem.
  
• Be creative! If you have a pet, write about it. If you have a family member you feel especially close to, write a cinquain about them. There is no limit to what you can write about.
  

Related wikiHows

• How to Write a Poem
  
• How to Write a Haiku Poem
  
• How to Publish a Poem
  
• How to Scan a Poem
  

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