Dew's Poem Starters

Credit Info: Most of these poem templates are based on some high school English assignments I had years ago and they can also be found in various versions throughout the internet. In some cases, I have altered them or added options. If you know of a poem template that should be added to this page, please let me know by filling out my feedback form. Thanks!


Suggestion: If come up with a poem that you are really happy with please think about visiting www.poetry.com's Products Area. Here you can have your poem placed on an apron, t-shirt, calendar, or mug for you to enjoy.


Personification Poem:
1. Emotion you are representing as a person
2. The person's body type
3. How the person moves or walks
4. The person's coloring (hair, eyes, clothes)
5. How the person speaks or sounds he/she makes
6. How the person makes you feel
Then transfer the above answers to here:

I saw ______ clearly.
He/She was ___________.
He/She turned and _________.
I saw his/her ______________.
I heard him/her ____________.
And I felt ___________.

*Optional: Replace the verbs "turned" or "saw" with other verbs.



When I...Poem:
1.Begin each line with "When I..."
2. Make a list of things that you see, hear, read, feel, etc that bother you or disturb you.
3. After completing your list, add the last line: "I stand up" or "I will stand up."




Mood Poem:
1. Select the mood you will deal with and complete the first line: I'm ______.
2. Write three examples of how you mood DOES NOT FEEL. Begin each line with the word "NOT."
3. Then create a UNIQUE line by describing the mood in another way. "I'm just ________ [emotion].
4. Finally, write 3 examples of how your mood DOES feel. Begin each line with the mood or emotion. Examples: [Emotion] that __________
[Emotion] since/because ___________



Five Sense Poem:
1. [Emotion] is [color].
2. It sounds like _________.
3. It feels like _________.
4. It tastes like _________.
Fill in the blanks with 1-3 objects or situations. *Optional: Insert the line: It smells like _______.
*Optional: Rearrange lines following the first one until the poem reads the best.



Five W Poem:
1. Who (person, animal): On the 1st line, write down the subject of your poem. (You can either use an actual name or a phrase like "the cook" to identify the person.)
2. What (action): On the 2nd line, describe some specific action done by this person.
3. Where (location): On the 3rd line, write down where the person does this action.
4. When (time): On the 4th line, write down when this person does this action.
5. Why (reason): On the 5th line, write down why this person does this action or why YOU think he/she does it.

*Optional: Be creative with the last line--think of a *funny* reason, stretch the truth, or try to look at the person's motives from an unusual angle.



I Have Never Poem:
1. Begin the poem with "I have never..."
2. List three or more things that have never happened to you or things you haven't accomplished yet. Your examples may be similar in nature or very different.
3. Rearrange the lines until they sound the best.
4. Finally, add the last line, which is: "But I would like to."



I Do Not Understand Poem:
1. Begin the poem with the words "I do not understand."
2. List three things you do not understand about the world or people (Each example is on a separate line.)
3. Then name the one thing you do not understand the most. This should be something fairly important to you. State it, then add some specific details about it.



Autobiography Poem:
1st line: Your first name only
2nd line: 3-4 traits or qualities that describe you (use adjectives and separate them with commas)
3rd line: Brother/Sister/Sibling/Father/Mother/ of _______
4th line: Lover of ______ (three ideas, groups, people, objects, causes, etc.)
5th line: Who feels _____ (2-3 emotions)
6th line: Who needs _____ (2-3 items)
7th line: Who gives _____ (2-3 items)
8th line: Who fears _____ (2-3 items)
9th line: Who wears ______ (2-3 items)
10th line: Who lives _____(describe briefly where) 11t line: Your last name only

*Optional: Add the line "Who would like to see _______" after the 9th line or have it replace the 9th line.



I Am Poem:
Copy down the following and complete each sentence.

I am (2 special characteristics you have--for example "I am a ____ girl who ______.")
I wonder
I see
I want
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

I pretend
I feel
I touch
I worry
I cry
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

I understand
I say
I dream
I try
I hope
I am (the first line of the poem repeated)

*Optional: Remove the line "I touch" and replace it with the line "I don't understand" or "I feel"

*Optional: You may want to alter the "I am" lines to show change or further insight into your character as you move through the poem.

*Optional: Change the "I Am" with this format.

The first "I Am"--the first impression most people have of you.
Second "I Am"--repeat of first line.
Third "I am"--what most people in general think of you/what you show the world.
Fourth "I am"--what you are deep down/what your family and close friends know about you/what you are afraid to show the world.



Diamond Poem:
Diamond Poem 1st line: an one word noun
2nd line: 2 adjectives that describe the noun
3rd line: 3 verbs that the noun does (actions)
4th line: 4 things (nouns) that the top noun and the bottom noun has
5th line: 3 verbs that the bottom noun does (actions)
6th line: 2 adjectives that the describes the bottom noun
7th line: a one word noun that is opposite the top noun

*By centering each line, the poem develops into the shape of diamond.



Dew's Free Association/Full Circle Poem:
Create a list of 6-10 words and write them so they form a circle. Each word should relate/connect in some way with the words on either side of it. Keep in mind that your connections could be of a direct/obvious nature or you could decide to select ones that are deeply personal.


*Optional: Instead of writing your words in the form a circle, each word could just be written on a separate line. If you wish, you could have the first line and the last line be the same word. *Optional: Start your list with an emotion (ie sadness, anger, joy)

*Optional: Start your list with your name or the name of someone else.

*Optional: Start your list with the name of an animal or any other aspect of nature.

*Optional: Start your list with a color or other descriptive word (ie cold, soft)

*Optional: Start your list with your favorite activity.

*Optional: Start your list with your favorite time of year or season.

*Optional: Write this poem under a time limit with the goal being that you need to come up with as many associated words as you can in the span of time you have selected. First, open a dictionary and write down any word that you find interesting on the first page you look at. Then, write down the first word/phrase that comes to you when you think of that word. Follow the same pattern for this word and then for the next and so on. Continue this for the time limit that you have set up. Feel free to edit your list later if you wish.

*Optional: Instead of single words you could use short phrases. In this case, you should write each phrase on a separate line.



Dew's Descriptive Name Poem:
Click here for this poem template.



© Copyright 1999-2003 by Dew, owner of Dew's Matrix Fan Page. This page cannot be written, copied or reproduced without express written consent.

Return To Home Page