My Poetry Forms

Most of these form are mine, but I have added some poetry forms developed by others to show the differences in forms.

Acrostic Forms:

The Golden Shovel is not my form, but I bring it up because it is the opposite of my Golden Pick.
Golden Shovel is a form of acrostic poetry invented by Terrance Hays. Take a favorite line from a poem you admire and use those words as the end words in each line. Best viewed as right justified. I have chosen “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,” the first line of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s 43rd sonnet. If you haven’t read this endearing sonnet, I encourage you to do so.

How Do I Love Thee?

I long to tell you how
I care but don’t know what to do.
For you already know how I
feel. But, my love,
how is it for thee?
I should, but just cannot let
this go. I wish you would tell me.
As the days go by, my blessings I count.
They are all of you. You are the
blessings—my blessings, in so many ways.

Comment or continue to the next Poetry Form. 🙂

The Golden Pick
What if you use a line from another poet at the beginning of each line? I have looked up all kinds of acrostics and can’t find a name for this. So, I created the Golden Pick. Here is my example from the lyrics to the spiritual, “Give Me Jesus.”

Give Me Jesus

In everything that I do,
The Lord be with me,
Morning, noon, evening, all night.
When I’m happy or afraid,
I know I need to trust Him.
Rise and lift my face, and
Give Him my day.
Me, and all my longings, I give to You,
Jesus.

You, who don’t yet know Christ,
Can know Him today;
Have a hope for the future,
All forgiven and washed clean.
This may seem strange as the
World is enticing and alluring, but
Give Jesus all you are. Let
Me introduce you to my dearest friend,
Jesus.

            This is one of my favorite spirituals. I have sung it so many times. My dad asked me to sing it at his funeral, which I did. This song brings me joy which is why I chose to use it. Find that which brings you joy and share it with the world.

Golden Trowel
Like the Golden Pick, this is one of my inventions. The Golden Trowel is a combination of the Golden Shovel and the Golden Pick. Take a phrase from a poet (give credit where credit is due) and use this quote as the beginning and ending words of each line. If the phrase has an odd number of words, the last words of the poem will be the title of the poem.

“The course of true love never did run smooth.” ~ William Shakespeare

Hard Work

The meaning of love, yes, the course
Of foibles we must but bear. True
Love must bear, if ‘tis true. Never
Did it only favor find—run
Smooth—but amuck, cold, hot, hard work.

Golden Drill
An online friend from Jerusalem, Poet David Bogomolny created the Golden Drill. Rules: Must be centered. Select a line from another poet’s poem. Every line of your Golden Drill contains one word from the selected quote in order, from first to last, capitalizing the quoted words. All lines must contain an odd number of words (at least three.) Each quoted word must be in the middle of its respective line. If there is one word before the quoted word, there must be one after: two words before, two words after, etc.

Taste Time
“Time is swallowed before I taste it.” ~ Edward Ahern

Painful TIME lingers.
Laughter IS fleeting.
Grief’s SWALLOWED hard,
Long BEFORE over.
Friend, I know.
Can you TASTE your time?
Savor, lest IT runs out.

Write Left Acrostic
I could not find a name for this type of acrostic. I have called it Write Left Acrostic. It is different from the "Golden" forms, because it is not a quote from another poet. The message runs down the left first words of the each line.

Wisdom

Wisdom, not knowledge,
watches your steps—
over choices you make.
You need to listen.
Heed her instructions,
her sage teachings,
advice, and guidance.

Write Left and Right Acrostic

Introducing the Write Left and Right Acrostic, another of my invented forms. This message will run down the right and then the left of the poem.

Evil Must Flee

Evil encompasses, striving to invade. We
must fight with all our might. We can
flee from its clutches, shun it, conquer
it, and master it. The very host of evil
has no sway over us. Although, through
no power of our own, but through Jesus’
power in us, and through His shed blood.

Thrice Nice Acrostic

How about three messages reading, down? Read the message down the left, down the middle and down the right. The key is to try to write it so that the middle word line up. I named it Thrice Nice Acrostic.

Home

Home: a place to have a loving family—
Is also a place of courage; a home God makes,
Where all are loved, and by having this
love, we will always be free. For in this house
lives faith, the God-kind, that builds a home.

Thrice Nice Across-tic
Okay, I took this one a step farther with a message reading from left to right. Again, line up the middle words as best as you can to accomplish this one. I used two words between the middle and ending words to make them easier to find.

My life is so much better, husband, because of you.
Light my world, down becomes up, nights become days.
And when a million glimmers fill the starry nights
With wonder, your incredible love makes me complete.

Diamond Abecedarian
When writing a diamond abecedarian (my own form) start with a single syllable "A" word, contiue each successive line with the letters of the alphabet in order; increasing syllables in each successive line until thirteen syllables, repeat thirteen again (the letters m and n) then decrease syllables back to a one syllable z word. Kudos if you can make it a perfect diamond shape. Mine was—not so much. I didn’t rhyme mine, but extra kudos to someone who does! I used an ex word for my x word. Triple kudos if you use a true x word.

Forgiveness

A
Brief chat
Caused me to
Doubt my wayward
Emotions. What I
Found, encouraged me to
Grow, to find that although I
Harbored resentment. This hurt me.
I needed to forgive. Show God’s love.
Jesus will bring judgement. It’s not my job.
Kindness. Fruit of the Spirit, produce in me.
Lord, forgive my unforgiveness. Help me show grace.
Mark this day as a change of heart, a day of freedom.
Nevermore to be held captive by worry or strife,
Or fearful scenario building, or foolish
Pride. It is undeniable. I must have
Quiet moments, peaceful meditation,
Remembering Your love, faithfulness,
Salvation, and Your mercies, new.
Thankfulness overflowing,
Unabashed worshiping,
Valuing You, Lord.
Waiting in such
eXcitement.
You’re, my
Zeal.

Concrete Vase and Reverse Poem
I took the concept of a concrete poem and a reverse poem (a poem that can be read from bottom to the top) and created the Concrete Vase and Reverse Poem. Structure: This vase-shaped poem begins with what will be the lip of the vase. Short words, then longer ones, and phrases help the shape. The object is not only the shape, but the poem may also be read from the bottom to top, changing the meaning. Reading it forward is like asking to be filled with these attributes. In the reverse reading, we find that if we cherish these, we will live them and pour them out on others whom we meet. It really seems more fitting to call it a perfume bottle reverse poem. What do you think?

pour out
joy
hope
peace
goodness
patience, love
kindness, compassion
gentleness, humility
self-control, faith
cherish these

The Kace of the Vase
This concrete poem The Kace of the Vase has this syllabic pattern: 3.3.6.5.6.10. 9.8.6.5.4.4.3.2.6.6. If you find that changing the syllable structure helps it turn out better, do so!

Pottery.
It can be
A fun activity
A wheel and some clay
And you have paved the way
To a vase, or a cup, or candy tray
A water bowl for your little dog
A nut tray for your Uncle Bob
A vase for some flowers
You pick from the yard
For your kitchen
Or living room,
Dining room,
Or hall
Pottery imperfect
But useful, all in all

Poetic Notes: Though it is not necessary, I rhymed mine: aaabbbxxxxxccdxd.