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I'm
trying to tell about quatrains So
here is the deal with a quatrain |
OK, the silly ditty above is called a quatrain. A quatrain is a poem or stanza that has 4 lines. These lines often rhyme, but don't have to.
The poem above is actually made up of 2 quatrains. When the quatrains are put together to make a longer poem, they are called stanzas. Now, before we go much further, we should define a stanza. A stanza is like the verse of a song. On paper, stanzas are set apart with a space. Stanzas help organize the poem and tell the reader when to take a short break.
When quatrains rhyme, they usually have a pattern to their rhyme. You may have heard your teacher talk about a rhyme pattern called "abab" or "abba." We use letters to describe the rhyme pattern in quatrains. The rhyme pattern in the poem above is "abcb." In other words, the second and fourth lines rhyme but the first and third lines do not.
Many quatrains have a rhythm as well as a rhyme. Read the poem again. Tap your feet or clap your hands while you read. Can you find the rhythm?
As you read more poetry, you will notice that many poems are written in the form. In fact, it's one of the most popular forms of poetry ... and song!
Writer's Toolbox
Before you begin writing, you may want to gather some tools to help you as you search for just the right words. Here is a list of materials you might need:
- something
to write on — notebook paper, adding machine tape, file cards,
graph paper...
- something
to write with — pencils, crayons, typewriter, computer, markers...
- drawing
paper ... sometimes it helps to draw a picture first!
- art supplies
(colored pencils, crayons, and other fun stuff!)
- word lists
(Click HERE for
an example or HERE
for a blank list!)
- a thesaurus
- a dictionary
Your
Turn!
Think about a topic you would like to explore! You can pick anything you want. You might write about a moment in history, the boy who sits next to you in math, or the two-headed monster living in your garage!
Once you have your topic, find a rhythm you want to use. If you get stuck, try thinking of a song you know. Sometimes it helps to write new words to old songs. Try using one of the songs on this site ... KidzSing Garden of Song.
Now, it's time to play with words and rhymes. Try a couple of drafts and don't be afraid to switch lines and stanzas around until you get just the right fit! If you are going to use rhyme, be sure to have a rhyming dictionary handy!
When you have finished your rough draft, read it to a friend, your writing group, or your principal. Ask them to give you some feedback about the words you have chosen. If you think that their suggestions will help your poem, add them.
When you have your poem just the way you like it, it's time to publish it. You can publish any way you like. You can print it on fancy paper, include it in an anthology of your own poetry, use a computer application (like PowerPoint, HyperStudio, or even Flash), read it out loud, or you may even choose to keep it to yourself!
Click the button below for your journal page!
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