What Makes A Poem?

Have you ever tried to write a poem? If so, you probably had to think about what a poem is. Is it lines that rhyme? Pictures painted with words? Toe-tapping rhythms? A poem can be all of these things—or none of them.

Here is a poetry activity that anyone can do:

Poetry is everywhere—in our favorite songs, the nursery rhymes we read as children, and even in some television commercials. 
Make a list of poems you have heard or read. Then answer the following questions:

Did you find poetry in any unexpected places?

What do these poems have in common?

How do the words create mental pictures?

Do these poems rhyme or have rhythm.

Once you've answered these questions, you're on your way to defining poetry.

 
Melissa Reese Etheridge