creative writing tasks for poetry

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101 Poetry Prompts & Ideas for Writing Poems

Not sure what to write a poem about? Here’s 101 poetry prompts to get you started!

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These poetry prompts are designed to help you keep a creative writing practice. If you’re staring at a blank page and the words aren’t flowing, the creative writing prompts for poems can be a great way to get started!

New for 2023! Due to popular demand, I created a printable, ad-free version of these poetry prompts you can download to use at home or even in the classroom! Get them at our Etsy Shop .

Even if poetry isn’t your thing, you could always use these things to inspire other writing projects. Essays, journal entries, short stories, and flash fiction are just a few examples of ways this list can be used.

You may even find this list of creative poetry writing prompts helpful as an exercise to build your skills in descriptive writing and using metaphors!

Let’s get onto the list, shall we?

Here are 101 Poetry Prompts for Creative Writing

Most of these creative writing ideas are simple and open-ended. This allows you total creative freedom to write from these poetry prompts in your own unique style, tone, and voice.

If one poetry idea doesn’t appeal to you, challenge yourself to find parallels between the prompt and things that you do enjoy writing about!

1.The Untouchable : Something that will always be out of reach

2. 7 Days, 7 Lines : Write a poem where each line/sentence is about each day of last week

3. Grandma’s Kitchen : Focus on a single memory, or describe what you might imagine the typical grandmother’s kitchen to be like

4. Taste the Rainbow : What does your favorite color taste like?

5. Misfits: How it feels when you don’t belong in a group of others.

6. Stranger Conversations : Start the first line of your poem with a word or phrase from a recent passing conversation between you and someone you don’t know.

7. On the Field : Write from the perspective of a sports ball {Baseball, Soccer, Football, Basketball, Lacrosse, etc.} – think about what the sports ball might feel, see, hear, think, and experience with this poetry idea!

8. Street Signs: Take note of the words on signs and street names you pass while driving, walking, or riding the bus. Write a poem starting with one of these words you notice.

9. Cold water: What feelings do you associate with cold water? Maybe it’s a refreshing cold glass of water on a hot day, or maybe you imagine the feelings associated with being plunged into the icy river in the winter.

10. Ghostwriter: Imagine an invisible ghost picks up a pen and starts writing to you.

11. Lessons From Math Class: Write about a math concept, such as “you cannot divide by zero” or never-ending irrational numbers.

12. Instagram Wall: Open up either your own Instagram account or one of a friend/celebrity and write poetry based on the first picture you see.

13. Radio: Tune in to a radio station you don’t normally listen to, and write a poem inspired by the the first song or message you hear.

14. How To : Write a poem on how to do something mundane most people take for granted, such as how to tie your shoes, how to turn on a lamp, how to pour a cup of coffee.

15. Under 25 Words : Challenge yourself to write a poem that is no more than 25 words long.

16. Out of Order: Write about your feelings when there is an out of order sign on a vending machine.

17. Home Planet: Imagine you are from another planet, stuck on earth and longing for home.

18. Uncertainty : Think about a time in your life when you couldn’t make a decision, and write based on this.

19. Complete : Be inspired by a project or task be completed – whether it’s crossing something off the never-ending to-do list, or a project you have worked on for a long time.

20. Compare and Contrast Personality : What are some key differences and similarities between two people you know?

21. Goodbyes : Write about a time in your life you said goodbye to someone – this could be as simple as ending a mundane phone conversation, or harder goodbyes to close friends, family members, or former partners.

22. Imagine Weather Indoors : Perhaps a thunderstorm in the attic? A tornado in the kitchen?

23. Would You Rather? Write about something you don’t want to do, and what you would rather do instead.

24. Sound of Silence : Take some inspiration from the classic Simon & Garfunkel song and describe what silence sounds like.

25. Numbness : What’s it like to feel nothing at all?

26. Fabric Textures : Use different fiber textures, such as wool, silk, and cotton as a poetry writing prompt.

27. Anticipation : Write about the feelings you experience or things you notice while waiting for something.

28. Poison: Describe something toxic and its effects on a person.

29. Circus Performers: Write your poetry inspired by a circus performer – a trapeze artist, the clowns, the ringmaster, the animal trainers, etc.

30. Riding on the Bus : Write a poem based on a time you’ve traveled by bus – whether a school bus, around town, or a long distance trip to visit a certain destination.

31. Time Freeze : Imagine wherever you are right now that the clock stops and all the people in the world are frozen in place. What are they doing?

32. The Spice of Life : Choose a spice from your kitchen cabinet, and relate its flavor to an event that has happened recently in your daily life.

33. Parallel Universe : Imagine you, but in a completely different life based on making a different decision that impacted everything else.

34. Mad Scientist : Create a piece based on a science experiment going terribly, terribly wrong.

35. People You Have Known : Make each line about different people you have met but lost contact with over the years. These could be old friends, passed on family, etc.

36. Last Words : Use the last sentence from the nearest book as the inspiration for the first line of your poem.

37. Fix This : Think about something you own that is broken, and write about possible ways to fix it. Duct tape? A hammer and nails?

38. Suspicion : Pretend you are a detective and you have to narrow down the suspects.

39. Political News : Many famous poets found inspiration from the current politics in their time. Open up a newspaper or news website, and create inspired by the first news article you find.

40. The Letter D : Make a list of 5 words that start with all with the same letter, and then use these items throughout the lines of your verse. {This can be any letter, but for example sake: Daisy, Dishes, Desk, Darkness, Doubt}

41. Quite the Collection : Go to a museum, or look at museum galleries online. Draw your inspiration from collections of objects and artifacts from your favorite display. Examples: Pre-historic days, Egyptians, Art Galleries, etc.

42. Standing in Line : Think of a time you had to stand in line for something. Maybe you were waiting in a check-out line at the store, or you had to stand in line to enter a concert or event.

43. Junk Mail Prose: Take some inspiration from your latest junk mail. Maybe it’s a grocery store flyer announcing a sale on grapes, or an offer for a credit card.

44. Recipe : Write your poem in the form of a recipe. This can be for something tangible, such as a cake, or it can be a more abstract concept such as love or happiness. List ingredients and directions for mixing and tips for cooking up your concept to perfection.

45. Do you like sweaters? Some people love their coziness, others find them scratchy and too hot. Use your feelings about sweaters in a poem.

46. After Party : What is it like after all party guests go home?

47. Overgrown : Use Little Shop of Horrors for inspiration, or let your imagination run wild on what might happen if a plant or flower came to life or started spreading rapidly to take over the world.

48. Interference: Write a poem that is about someone or something coming in between you and your goals.

49. On Shaky Ground: Use an earthquake reference or metaphor in your poem.

50. Trust Issues : Can you trust someone you have doubted in the past?

51. Locked in a Jar: Imagine you are a tiny person, who has been captured and put into a jar for display or science.

52. Weirder Than Fiction: Think of the most unbelievable moment in your life, and write a poem about the experience.

53. Fast Food: Write a poem about fast food restaurants and experiences.

54. Unemployed: Write a poem about quitting or being fired from a job you depended on.

55. Boxes: What kinds of family secrets or stories might be hiding in that untouched box in the attic?

56. No One Understands : Write about what it feels like when no one understands or agrees with your opinion.

57. Criminal Minds : Write a poem from the perspective of a high-profile criminal who is always on the run from law enforcement.

58. Marathon Runner : Write a poem about what training you might be doing to accomplish a difficult challenge in your life.

59. Trapped : Write about an experience that made you feel trapped.

60. Passing the Church : Write a poem about noticing something interesting while passing by a church near your home.

61. Backseat Driver: Write about what it’s like to be doing something in your life and constantly being criticized while trying to move ahead.

62. Luster: Create a descriptive poem about something that has a soft glow or sheen to it.

63. Clipboard: Write a poem about someone who is all business like and set in their ways of following a system.

64. Doctor: Write a poem about receiving advice from a doctor.

65. First Car : Write an ode to your first car

66. Life Didn’t Go As a Planned : Write about a recent or memorable experience when nothing went according to plan.

67. Architect : Imagine you are hired to design a building for a humanitarian cause you are passionate about.

68. The Crazy Cat Hoarder : Write about someone who owns far too many cats.

69. Queen : Write a poem from the perspective of a queen.

70. Movie Character : Think of a recent movie you watched, and create a poem about one character specifically, or an interaction between two characters that was memorable.

71. Potential Energy : Write about an experience where you had a lot of potential for success, but failed.

72. Moonlight : Write about an experience in the moonlight.

73. Perfection : Write about trying to always keep everything perfect.

74. You Are Wrong : Write a poem where you tell someone they are wrong and why.

75. Sarcasm : Write a poem using sarcasm as a form of illustrating your point.

76. Don’t Cry : Write a poem about how not to cry when it’s hard to hold back the tears.

77. Listen Up: Write a poem telling someone they are better than they think they are.

78. Flipside : Find the good in something terrible.

79. Maybe They Had a Reason : Write a poem about someone doing something you don’t understand, and try to explain what reasons they might have had.

80. How to Drive : Write a poem that explains how to drive to a teenager.

81. Up & Down the Steps: Write a poem that includes the motion of going up or down a staircase

82. Basket Case: Has there ever been a time when you thought you might lose your mind? Jot your feelings and thoughts down in verse form.

83. Lucky Guess: Many times in our life we have to make a good guess for what is the best decision. Use this poetry idea to write about feelings related to guessing something right – or wrong.

84. Dear Reader: What audience enjoys reading the type of poetry you like to write? Craft a note to your potential audience that addresses their biggest fears, hopes, and dreams.

85. All or Nothing : Share your thoughts on absolutist thinking: when one’s beliefs are so set in stone there are no exceptions.

86. Ladders in the Sky : Imagine there are ladders that take you up to the clouds. What could be up there? What feelings do you have about climbing the ladders, or is their a mystery as to how they got there in the first place?

87. Always On My Mind: Compose a poem about what it’s like to always be thinking about someone or something.

88. Paranoia : What would it be like if you felt like someone was watching you but no one believed you?

89. Liar, Liar: How would you react to someone who lied to you?

90. Secret Word: What’s the magic word to unlock someone’s access to something?

91. For What It’s Worth: Use a valuable object in your home as inspiration as a poetry prompt idea.

92. Coming Home to Secrets: Imagine a person who puts on a good act to cover up a secret they deal with at home.

93. Productivity: Talk about your greatest struggles with time management and organization.

94. Defying Gravity: Use words that relate to being weightless and floating.

95. Signs of the Times : How has a place you are familiar with changed over the past 10 years?

96. Sleepless Nights : What ideas and feelings keep you up at night? What’s it like when you have to wake up in the morning on a night you can’t sleep?

97. You Can’t Fire Me, I Quit : Use one of the worst job related memories you can think of as a creative writing prompt.

98. By George : You can choose any name, but think of 3-5 notable figures or celebrities who share a common first name, and combine their personalities and physical characteristics into one piece of poetry. For example: George Washington, George Clooney, George Harrison.

99. Shelter : Write a poem about a time you were thankful for shelter from a storm.

100. Cafeteria : Create a poem inspired by the people who might be eating lunch in a cafeteria at school or at a hospital.

101. Dusty Musical Instruments : Base your poem around the plight of a musician who hasn’t picked up the guitar or touched a piano in years.

Love these prompts? The printable, ad-free version of these poetry prompts can be used offline or in the classroom! Get them at our Etsy Shop .

There are unlimited possibilities for ways you can use these poem ideas to write poetry. Using a list like this can greatly help you with getting into the habit of writing daily – even when you don’t feel inspired to write.

While not every poem you write will be an award-winning masterpiece, using these poem starters as a regular exercise can help you better your craft as a writer.

I hope you enjoy these poetry prompts – and if you write anything you’d like to share inspired by these creative poetry writing prompts, let us know in the comments below – we love to see how others use writing ideas to create their own work!

And of course, don’t forget to get the ad-free poetry prompt cards printable version if you’d like to use these prompts offline, in the classroom or with your small group!

Chelle Stein wrote her first embarrassingly bad novel at the age of 14 and hasn't stopped writing since. As the founder of ThinkWritten, she enjoys encouraging writers and creatives of all types.

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96 comments.

I had a wonderful inspiration from prompt number 49 “On Shaky Ground,” although it’s not exactly about an earthquake. I wanted to share it on here, so I hope you enjoy it!

Title: “Shaking Ground”

The ground’s shaking My heart’s aching I’m getting dizzy My mind’s crazy

On shaking ground It’s like I’m on a battleground We’re all fighting for love Dirtying our white glove

The ground’s shaking My body’s quaking Love is so cruel Making me a fool

On shaking ground We are all love-bound Stuck in a crate Nobody can avoid this fate

The ground’s shaking We are all waking Opening our eyes Everyone dies

On shaking ground Our love is profound Although we are separate Better places await

The ground’s shaking Death’s overtaking Heaven is descending The world’s ending

On shaking ground In love we are drowned

Awesome interpretation Amanda! Thanks for sharing!

heyyy, I have written something regarding prompt 27 and 96 The Night Charms.

Do you dread the dark; Or do you adore the stars? Do you really think the fire place is that warm; Or you just envy the night charms? The skyline tries to match the stars’ sparkle, The sky gets dark, the vicinity gets darker. The “sun” has set for the day being loyal; These are now the lamps burning the midnight oil. The Eve so busy, that everyone forgets to praise its beauty. The sun has set without anyone bidding him an adieu, Failed to demonstrate its scintillating view. The moon being the epitome of perfection, Has the black spots, Depicting an episode of it’s dark past.

And I sit; I sit and wonder till the dawn. What a peaceful time it is, To have a small world of your own. Away from the chaos, I found a soul that was lost. So tired, yet radiant, Trying to be someone she’s not in the end. That bewitching smile held my hand, Carried me back to shore, letting me feel my feet in the sand. The waves moved to and fro, Whispering to me as they go, “Oh girl, my girl This is the soul you have within you, Never let it vanish, For it alters you into something good and something new, Don’t let the cruel world decide, Don’t let anyone kill that merry vibe.”

Then I saw my own soul fade, Fly into my heart, For what it was made. Oh dear lord, The night’s silence became my solace, My life lessons were made by the waves. Who am I? What have I done to myself? Many questions were answered in self reproach, The answers were still unspoken with no depth. Oh dear night, What have you done to me? Or should I thank you for putting a soul that I see. The nights spent later were now spectacular, My darkness somehow added some light to my life, Making it fuller… Everyday after a day, walking through the scorching lawns, I wait for the the dusk to arrive, and then explore myself till the dawn.

This is so amazing I ran out of words. Very lit thoughts beautifully penned. Keep writing like this dude.❤🌻

That is beautiful, it inspired me to write about my fears, thank you!!

Thank you for the inspiration! 😀 This was based of 21 and 77 (I think those were the numbers lol)

Goodbye to the days when we played together in the sun Goodbye to the smile on your face and to all of the fun I look at you, so dull and blue How long before I can say hello to the real you You are worth more than you think At the very least, you are to me Though there are greater things that wait for you than the least You are worthy of the most, the greatest of things If only goodbye could be ‘see you later’ I want to see the real you again To your suffering I don’t want to be just a spectator I want it all to end Goodbye to my only friend I want to heal you but I don’t know how I wish I had this all figured out Please come back to me I just want you to be free

Thank u so much im more inspired after seeing these creative ideas. 🤗

Glad they inspired you!

Thanks for sharing Amanda!

That was beautiful! I am a writer too! I actually just finished writing one but, it wasn’t from this website, just kind of something that’s been on my head for a while you know? Anyways, again, that was awesome! I am a Christian, and I love seeing people write about that kind of stuff! 🙂

I am jim from Oregon. I am also a writer, not very good but active. I am a Christian as well as you are. Sometimes it is hard to come up with something to write about.

All of a sudden, I have started to write poetry. Do you like all forms of writing? I would enjoy reading some of you work if you would you would like to s if you would like to send me some.

i have written one about frozen time:

my brother will be drawing, his pencil wont leave the sheet, my mother hearing the radio, today’s news on repeat. my sister, in fact, is making her bed, she’ll be making it still, till the last bug is dead. me, on the other hand, i’ll be visiting you, i’ll see you in action, doing the things that you do, i’ll be happy to see you, just a last time, i’ll kiss your still lips, and hold for a while. then i’ll take a plane to saudi, where i’ll see my dad, he’ll be swimming with turtles, he will not seem sad. i have lived on this earth, for 15 whole years, time for goodbye, with not a single tear.

hey beautifully expressed…!!!

Beautifully penned 🌼

I love it I tried one out myself as well Change

She sat looking out the window. The sound of the piano’s cheerful tune ringing out throughout the room. The sweet smell of burnt pine emanating from her fireplace. The sky is blue and the sun shines bright. She closes her eyes for a second. She opens them again. The window is broken and scattered on the ground. The piano sits covered in ashes, every symphony played now just a distant memory replaced with a discordant melody. The room smells of smoke and ash. The sky is dark and rain falls on the remnants of her home. Not a living thing in sight,not even her.

Nice one Amanda. kind of tells me the chronology of love and its eventualities.

such a dilightful poem, thanks for the word that made the day for me. you are such a good poet.

Omg! What!! This is amazing! I’d love to feature this piece on my blog monasteryjm.com. I also love this blog post by thinkwritten.com, planning on putting the link in my next blog post so others can come over here to check it out! So helpful!

this is so great! I’ve been needing inspiration. this might work

Thank you so much for this article! I love the profundity and open-endedness of the prompts. Here is a poem I wrote, drawing inspiration from #56, “No One Understands.” I wrote this from the perspective of a psychic Arcturian Starseed in her teenage years and how the world perceives her spiritual connection; while at the same time hinting at the true meaning of her various baffling actions. Enjoy 🙂

Starseed – a poem on perspective

In the snow She stands alone Wrapped in shrouds of mystery Her gentle hand gloved with giving Caressing A violet stone

Math class is dismissed But there still she sits Speaking to the ceiling in tender tones A soft and healing resonance Murmuring sweetly of ascension to Another, dearer dimension

In homeroom Her classmate weeps Of missed planes and shattered dreams Quietly She strokes the hand of the suffering And whispers then of channeling Some celestial utopia called Arcturus Where she claims to have been.

Please feel free to let me know where I need to improve! I’m fourteen years old and only an amateur, so a few suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, love and light 🙂

#79 I don’t know why he was so mad Did he not get his mail Was he already mad Or did he only get bills

He swung his arm with force He caused a loud bang He hurt his own hand He left with some blood

He is the man that punched the mailbox His hand dripped blood on it He left it with a dent He left it alone after that

That’s great Michael, thank you for sharing your response to one of the prompts!

Awesome! That was simple and yet creative

Interesting tips and keywords for boosting inspiration. I’ve found some good topic for start writing. Thanks

sleepless nights (#96)

it’s never a strangled cry that drags me from my dreams, but a gentle whisper, there to nudge the socks off my feet, and settle me back into the sheets. i seem to wake before i’ve had a chance to fall to rest.

why is it that i can never sleep, but always dream?

sleepless nights rule my life and drag me by my toes, throwing me into a sky of black and blue. not a single star can break through this spillage. and i sit and wonder in a sea of sheets, rippling around me, why my mind can swim these dark, tangling waters and i never need to take a breath.

have you ever noticed how static-filled the dark is? because when i lay buried under these burdens and blankets, the world seems ready to crumble under my grasp.

i can’t sleep, but i can dream, of days when i wasn’t pulled struggling from bed but awoken into the light. i wonder how i ever survived the grainy sky’s midnight troubles, the oil spill of its thunderclouds, the sandpaper raspiness of the three a.m. earth against my throat.

oh, how i can never sleep in a world that threatens to fall apart.

this is amazing! i hope i can be this good one day

once again beautiful <3

Thank you so much for these prompts! They’re so thought-provoking.

You’re welcome! Glad you enjoy them!

Take me back to those days, When I was allowed to dream, Where no one use to scream. Take me back to those days, When I was a child, Where I never use to find reasons to smile. Take me Take back to those days, When I never used to lie, Where I never used to shy. Take me back those carefreee days, When I was far away from school days. Take me back to those days , where every one used to prase, no matter how foolish i behave. Take me back to those days, when i wasn’t stuck between fake people. Take me back to the day I was born, So that I could live those days again………….

so mine is basically a mix between 76 and 77… I made it for my literature club i recently began trying to make.

‘Listen to me’ Listen to me your words mean more than you think your opinion is worthy to be shared your songs are capable of being sung

Listen to me

your smile is bright your frown shows nothing more than you should be cared for like you care for us.

your laughter is delightful and so is everything else

dont let the past go hurt you find strength in the experience

are you listening to me?

can you here me?

because YOU matter

Nice, thank you for sharing!

Prompt #1 “Untouchable”

Grasping Reaching Searching for the untouchable The indescribable On the tip of my tongue My fingertips Close to my heart But warping my brain Yet understood in the depths of my soul Emotions undiscovered Words Unsaid Deep in the depths of my mind Hand outstretched Lingering on the edge Eyes wide open But somehow still blind Unattainable But still in the hearts of The Brave The Curious The Resilient They Seek the unseekable They pursue the unattainable Each man seeing it in a different aspect Each of their visions blurred Each distorted by Experiences Traumas Wishes Dreams Filtering what’s untouchable

Thank you, glad you enjoy it!

I had good inspiration from #51, locked in a jar. I used it more metaphorically instead of literally. So here it is: glass walls, lid screwed on tight, can’t escape, not even at night. From the inside, looking out, this is not who I’m supposed to be. I’m supposed to be bigger, I’m supposed to be free, not stuck in a jar, no room to breathe. I need to move, I need to soar, I need to be able to speak my opinions and more. So as I look down at my tiny self, in this glass jar, “let me out, I can’t take it anymore”, I say to the bigger me, the one ignoring my tiny pleas.

Just wanted to add a twist to this promt. I’m just a beginner in the art of poetry, but I tried. If anyone has any creative criticism, go ahead! #16: our of order

My brain is out of order My thoughts have filled it to the brim Of my deepest thoughts of who I am Who we are As people We are out of order Never focusing on what we want Our passions All we ever get is work on top of work Pushing us down and down Like a giant hand Squeezing us into the depths of our depressions Until We can do anything But take it Anymore

Thank you Ash for sharing your take on the prompt with us!

Thank you ASH for reminding we can do anything if we try

Was inspired by #77 listen up Listen up…….! When would you listen up! Seems! you have given up! No matter who shut you up! Stand straight and look up!

Look up don’t be discouraged Let you heart be filled with courage Listen up and be encouraged Let life be sweet as porridge

You might have been down Like you have no crown Because deep down You were shut down

There is still hope When there is life Yes! You can still cope If you can see the light Yes! Even in the night

Oh listen up! Please listen up and take charge, You are better than the best Listen up! And oh! Please listen up.

beautifully written!

I wrote a poem using prompt 21 and I’m so proud of it. Comment if you want me to post it🤓

I bet the poem you wrote about prompt 21 is really good. I would like to read it please.

Mental prison, what a way to be trapped, being hidden, being snapped,

Clear glass is all i feel, apart from people, I hope I heal, I will never be equal,

I am different I am hurt raging currents people put on high alert but no one cares

No one dreads many tears I only have so many more threads

One day I’ll be gone but no one would care I will run away from the death chair

But until then

Mental prison what a way to be trapped being hidden being snapped

One day this will all blow away someday I will be molded out of clay but until then I will be lead astray

This is so darn awesome. It’s so deep and evokes the deepest of feelings🥰

I wrote almost the same thing omg I’m turning it into a contest entry

Inspired by No. 1! I am completely new to poetry, but I love it so much already! Here it is.

Perfection is Untouchable-

Perfection waiting, out of reach

Will I never touch it?

It always remain

Untouchable

No matter how hard I try

I will never quite reach

It will always remain

Though many people have tried

And seemed to have come close

But perfection’s not the goal

‘Cause we can’t quite grasp it

Perfection will always be

For all eternity

Looks like you are off to a great start!

Of Course, Silly Billy Me

”Well shit, I guess I lost my opportunity” the youngster retort

You see, for him, it’s all about his hurt – but she’s so educated, knows more about the rules of English than the rest of us.

Thus, to me she said… You cannot use curse words in a court report… you need to paraphrase his quote.

Into her spastic face I smiled – and pled my case

If you were my English professor back in the day, I could only imagine how much further in life I would have been…

”Don’t you mean farther in life?”

Of course, silly billy me.

This poem is called Secret Keeper and was inspired by #92. I hope you like it.

Everyone has a secret, Whether it be their own, Or someone else’s, We all have one.

But what if, You met someone, Who had a secret so big, That telling anyone would lead to horrible things.

And what if, That person told someone, And what they told them, Was more horrible than anything they could have ever imagined.

What if, That person told everyone, And when the parents, Of the kid with the secret found out, They were furious.

What if, They kept doing horrible things, Even though everyone knew, Even though they knew it was wrong.

And finally, What if, No one ever helped, The little kid with the biggest secret.

On number 28 : Poision I wrote a poem for it and would like to share it. The poision of friends and love

Beaten,she lies there. For they may be mistaken. Laughter rings throughout the school halls; a pure disaster. The dissapearence of parents hast caused this yet no one stops it. “Your a disgrace!” She heard them say. While in place she cries “I don’t belong here! Perhaps im out of place..” But she is not misplaced rather.. Shes lost in space.

I miss when you called me baby And I was in your arms saftely I know we drive eachother crazy But I miss callin you my baby

Those restless nights when I couldn’t sleep You calmed me down with your technique Always reminded me I’m strong not weak If only I let you speak

My heart only beats for you My feelings for you only grew You understood what I was going through I will never regret knowing you

Your smile melted my heart I wish we could restart And I could be apart Of a man I see as a work of art!

Stary night painting poem I guess ill call it

I raised my paint brush to my canvas So I could help people understand this This feeling of emotion for this painting has spoken I see the light as opportunity As for the whole thing it symbolizes unity The swirls degnify elegance and uncertainty For this painting executes this perfectly Where as my paintings let me adress Everything I feel I need to express!

#56 WHITE NOISE Faded away In the background Unheard Not visible

Eardrums splitting from the screams Yet none seem to care Can even hear my cries for help? For I am screaming as loud as I can

Are you? For all we hear Are whispers in here

Fading away in the background Unheard, invisible Yet it’s there, not loud enough Not noticeable, but there White noise Blank and pure In the background Faded away, yet so clear.

Just need to listen So open your ears She’s screaming for help But it’s muted to your ears

So open ’em up And listen to the calls For faded away, in the background Not visible, but clear. White Noise. It’s there.

Hi guys, I’m kind of late joining in. I read the prompts and the poems posted and this community is a creative bunch. I liked #35 People You Have Known. I want to share it with you guys.

Bern, a friend from grade school was my seat mate as well Rob had always teased me so my young life was hell Neesa was pretty, she knew that she was my crush Miss Homel, our teacher was always in a rush Played ball with Buco and I got hit on my head Fell in love with Cia, dreamt of her in my bed Had a tattoo with Marcus and called it “The Day” Chub challenged me to eat two pies, I said, “No way” I had to go far away so I wrote to Charie In this new place I found a friend in Perry My Grandma Leng passed away, she was a doll My grumpy uncle, Uncle Zar was teased by all These people have touched my life for worse or better Won’t be forgotten, be remembered forever

I hope that you liked it. Thanks guys. Thanks Think Written.

#37 fix it Still new to poems, and I haven’t written one in a while. Criticism is welcome because I need some more inspiration since I haven’t been getting any.

This is the body repair shop where we fix humans that have stopped how may we help you?

the girl stumbled upon the front door and spilled her list of regrets out into the open

“we’re sorry, miss” “but i’m afraid your first kiss will just be a dear old reminisce”

“your heart is also one that cannot be mended” “for every shattered piece- their lives just simply ended” the sewing kit can’t sew the fragments of her heart back because there were way too many to backtrack

she cried her heart out and it went “plop!” her tears like a river and like a lightbulb flickering its last light she too, took her last breath and was put to death

This is the body repair shop where we fix humans that have stopped “it seems we have failed again today” “sorry we’ll just try harder again another day”

I did poetry prompt #7. I wrote about the street I grew up on. Luverne Luverne, I moved onto you at the age of three. We like to race up and down your pavement road, either biking or running. You keep safe the house that I grew up in, one that has six humans and three dogs. You shelter other houses, too, that hold family friends and best friends to last a lifetime.

Luverne, we love you.

-Margaret McMahon

I was inspired by the prompt poison. Monster Roses are beautiful and delicate, but flawed.

Every rose has thorns that cause you to bleed.

Its innocence and beauty draws you in.

Only then when you touch it, it poisons you.

Am I really such an ugly monster, that plants pain an watches it spread?

I would say no.

Wouldn’t we all?

But maybe, just maybe a rose doesn’t notice it’s thorns.

-Lilliana Pridie

You said you’re only just starting?! That was sooo good! No criticism here. 🙂

Sorry, that was meant for “Ash” but yours was amazing too! 🙂

Prompt number 8: Street signs STOP Stop look and listen Stop at the corner Stop at the red light Stop for pedestrians Stop for cyclists Stop for animals Stop doing that Stop drop and roll Stop doing something else Stop shouting Stop whispering Stop talking Stop being quiet Stop posting cute cat videos Stop forgetting your appointments Stop making plans without me Stop eating all the yummies Stop running Stop the insanity Stop shopping Stop the never-ending commentary in my head Stop stopping Stop

Thanks for making this site and all its suggestions and especially this space to post our work, available!

I wrote from prompt #72 about moonlight. Shining down like a spotlight, Illuminating everything around you. The pure white light, Paint your surroundings in a soft glow. The round ball in the sky, speckled with craters like the freckles on your face. Looking down upon the sleeping earth, A nightlight for those still awake, a nightlight for you. Guides you, pulls you, lulls you towards it. It caresses your face with the light, casting away the shadows of the night.

I liked it I just wrote a small poem dedicated to my tutor and tutor just loved it .I used 21 good bye . I liked it really.😊

I just took up writing so bear with me.

Based on #72 “Moonlight”

A full bed Just the left side filled Soft, cold, baby blue sheets wrap around bare feet

She sweetly invites herself in Dressing the dark in a blue hue through cypress filled air, like 5 A.M. drives in January on the misty Northern coast.

Damp hair dances across grey skin, Waltzing with the breeze to Radiohead’s “How to Disappear Completely”

Euphoria slow dances with Tranquility Heavy eyes give in to sleep

Ladder to the Sky I want to climb the ladder to the sky I’m sure all would be well and that I could fly The ladder would be sturdy but still give me a fright Because looking down I’ll realized I’ve climbed many heights The higher I climb the greater the fall The greater the fall, the greater the sprawl But if i ever get to the sky up high I would be sure to hug you and say “goodbye” Once I’ve climbed the ladder I’ll know Sometimes its okay to look far down below Life is full of failure but soon I’ll find Happiness is a place, and not of the mind We all have ladders to climb and lives to live We all have a little piece of us that we can give Because when we climb that ladder to the sky We should think “No, life never passed me by”

Hi Ray, I love your piece.It gives one courage to face the challenges of live and move on.

Thanks for sharing the prompts Chelle Stein. I wrote this sometimes ago before coming to this site and I believed prompts #1 and #88 inspired my writing it. kindly help me vet it and give your criticism and recommendation. It is titled “SHADOW”.

My shadow your shadow My reflection your reflection My acts your acts

No one sees me,no one sees you Programmed by the Ubiquitous, To act as our bystander in realism

Virtuous iniquitous rises on that day To vindicate to incriminate My deeds your deeds.

Thanks for the seemingly endless amounts of writing prompts. I’ve been working on a poem, but it isn’t much.

She’s got my head spinning, Around and around; She’s all I think about, I can’t help but wondering, Does she feel the same?

Of course not, I’m just a fool; I’m nothing special, Just another person; Bland and dull.

How could a girl like her, love a guy like me? But the way she looks at me, Her smile, I can’t help but to feel flustered; Is this just my imagination?

It must be.

Wow! That’s exactly how I feel! Amazing poem!

Thanks so much, I’m glad you like it. 🙂

A massive thank you to thinkwritten.com for these amazing prompts. Some of these prompts have now formed the basis of my upcoming poetry collection (Never Marry a Writer) scheduled for release on January 1 2021. I will also be leaving a “Thank you” message for this website in the acknowledgements section. You have inspired a whole poetry collection out of nowhere which is highly commendable. So booktiful that!

That is wonderful news!

So I didn’t use any of the prompts but I wanted some feedback on this; it’s not great but I’m working on improving my writing skills

I am a girl who is broken easily and loves music I wonder if things will ever be normal again I hear light screaming through the darkness I want freedom from the chains trapping me in my fear I am a girl who is broken easily and loves music

I pretend to float in the ocean, letting the waves carry me away from reality I feel a presence of hope like a flame on my bare skin I touch the eye of a storm, grasping the stillness it brings I worry about wars that a spreading like wildfires I cry when I’m not with the people I love I am a girl who is broken easily and loves music

I understand feeling hopeless when you have no control over what is happening I say our differences make us special I dream to be a nurse, to help others when they can’t help themselves I try to do my best in everything I hope that all mankind will stop fighting and live in peace I am a girl who is broken easily and loves music

HELLO EVERYONE.. THIS SITE IS JUST WOW, AS AND WHEN I WAS OUT OF TOPICS OR WAS NOT ABLE TO THINK UPON IT ..IT HELPED ME A LOT WITH HINTS TO BEGIN WITH MY ANOTHER POEM .. I M NOT A PROFESSIONAL WRITER BUT JUST A STARTER AND A STUDENT OF 12TH DIVISION.. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ONE OF MY SPECIAL CREATION , ALTHOUGH NOT FROM THIS SITE. HOPE YOU ALL WILL LIKE IT.

AU REVOIR GOODBYE UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN, I BID U FAREWELL UNTIL WE TIE AGAIN, SEE YOU SOON , SEE YOU AGAIN, LETS SAY GOODBYE FOR A BETTER DAY.

THE FIRE THAT BURNS IN OUR HEART , THE MEMORIES THAT PRESERVES OUR PAST. ITS NOT THE GOODBYE THAT WRENCH THE HEART , BUT THE FLASHBACKS THAT HAVE PASSED.

I RECOLLECT AND RECOUNT , MOMENTS THAT ARE HALF FADED AND RENOWNED, I ALWAYS FEEL SO CHARMED, THAT I HAVE SOMETHING, WHICH MAKES ME SAYING GOODBYE SO DAMN HARD.

TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE, WALK ON THE STREETS WITH GOLDEN TRAILS. FOR I M NOT GONNA WAIL, BECAUSE I KNOW I WILL MEET YOU SOON ON THE FORTHCOMING DAY.

I wrote a poem based on #101.

Thank you so much for the inspiration!!

And then it was there. What I had been missing. What is it? You may ask. Well, it’s quite simple actually. It’s the joy of music. It’s the joy of sitting down and making music. It’s the joy you feel when you look up at people admiring you. The joy you see in peoples’ eyes. I don’t know why I ever stopped that. The piano sat on the stage. Dusty and untouched. It’d been decades since I’ve seen it. I haven’t come to this stage since I lost her. After the concert. The last time I ever heard her voice. And yet here I am years and years later. Knowing why I haven’t been happy in so long. Of course pain is always gonna be there, But as I played a soft note on the piano, All of it seemed to disappear. It was as if all the weight on my shoulders got lifted. The melodious notes resonated around the hall. And for a few moments, I forgot about all the pain. I forgot about the tears. I forgot about the heartache. And as the last notes echoed around the hall, I was truly happy.

Prompt #92: Coming home with secrets

My mother’s radio sits in the balcony And it greets me with electric static Coming to this sheltering home is somewhat problematic Cause the walls are too thin, and it’s back to reality. Back to the running water that conceals the noise of cracks Crumbling behind my peeling mask, holding my face with wax An unraveled thread masking the makeup smile of a wakeup call That runs down to my chin and I keep under wraps. I take invitations to the mall, yet the space around me seems so small Nevertheless, I show my teeth with a big, shiny grin And suck a trembling breath through their thin slit Happy to wear tight jeans, to stop me from an embarrassing fall. The bath hurts on my skin, but even more to protect screams from the halls My head floats in the water, but feels trapped in its walls It cracks my head open with all these secrets inside me Before a blink of an eye, to my room I’d already flee. Not to the radio playing static or streets that won’t let me be But to under the blankets, where no one can really see The struggle to be a walking, talking, breathing secret That was thrown to the ocean in a bottle, wishing to be free. However, the words untold keep coming like ever so frequent Like adrenalized filled cops in pursue of an escapee delinquent All the more, my doppelganger and I have come to an agreement To take these secrets to our grave, that we nowadays call home.

Recipe for Happiness

Start with friendship, Then add time, A dash of humor, And forgotten binds. Mix it up, Till blended well, And make sure, To remember the smell. Put that bowl, To the side, Grab a new one, Add grateful sighs. Then add family, And a smile, Then sit back, And mix awhile. To that bowl, Add a laugh, A cheerful cry, And blissful past. Whip until, There’s heavy peaks, Then pour in, What we all seek. Combine the two, Then mix it well, Spray the pan, And pour it out. Cherish the memory, The beautiful scent, Of unity, And happiness.

My mother died when I was younger so this poem is about me sitting on the lawn at night shortly after she passed away. I was imagining better times, which is why in my poem I talk about how the girl is imagining ‘walking on the moon’ and she is gripping the grass tight and trying to remember the warmth of her mothers palms.

Sitting in the blue black grass She’s walking on the moon Watching specks of silver dance To the mellow tune Her fingers gripping the grass so tight She can almost feel The warmth of her mothers palms

The winds cold fingers

The winds cold fingers Tousle with my hair Loosening the soil My sobs are carried away on the wind

I would love to share this list (credited to you) with students participating in a virtual library program on poetry. Would that be possible/acceptable? These are great!

Wow! Thank you so much for all these awesome prompts! I’ve written two poems already!

Prompt #1 AND #15, untouchable and less than 25 words. i’m lowk popping off??

Apollo Commands the sun, which squints so brightly, scorches and freckles. i want her hand on mine. searing pain fears, still i reach out, and bubble.

I looked at the word “Duct tape” And thought about it. Its not anywhere in this poem at all but it inspired it yk?

Feathers are Soft

Feathers are soft People aren’t

Plushies are soft People aren’t

Pillows are soft People aren’t

People are mean Not nice Not joyful

well my poem is only loosely based on the second prompt because I found I had too much to say about Sundays. I would love to share it with you but these comments don’t support links.

Inspired by number 55 in list of poetry suggestions. Poem to song guitar chords. —————————————————-

Carnegie Hall

D I was feeling ecstatic G when I went to the attic A and found my auld busking D guitar

D But I felt consternation G I disturbed hibernation A at first it seemed quite D bazaar

D When I blew off the dust G it smelt like old must A but t’was time to give it a D bar

D It was then I heard flapping G which sounded like clapping A my first ever round of D applause

D It stayed with the beat G while tapping my feet A I kept playing despite all my D flaws

D I took early retirement G though not a requirement A “Bad Buskers” all get D menopause

D I’m strumming the strings G and the echo it rings A but no jingling of coins as they D fall

D So I play here alone G as to what I was prone A never made it to Carnegie D Hall

D Time to call it a day G as they used to say A for no encores or no curtain D call

D There’s a butterfly G in my guitar

D There’s a butterfly G in my guitar.

Finn Mac Eoin

23rd July 2022

I love this Finn, where can we listen to your song?

Hello I wrote this in remberence of 9/11. Its now sitting in ground zero. A ordinary day to start Same as any other Dad goes off to work again, Child goes with their mother. Vibrant busy city, busses, cars galore Workers in the offices, from bottom to top floor. Throughout our life situations Hard times often do arise, Unfortunatly we never think of saying last goodbyes. That’s exactly what happened on September 11th 2001 A day that turned the world so cold When tragedy begun. Twin towers has exploded Co ordinate attacks, Al-Qaeda behind the planes That seemed to be hijacked. Thousands were killed instantly Some lives hang by a thread, Calls were made to loved ones Onlookers face of dread. Fears & screams while running As smoke fills up the air, News reports on live tv Helplessly they stare. On the news we hear the voices of all who are caught inside, Lying next to injured ones Or sadly ones who died. One man makes a phone call My darling wife it’s me, I’m sorry that I upset you And that we disagreed. My offices have been attacked they’re crumbling to the ground, A massive explosion hit our floor then instantly no sound. If I do not make it I’m stating from the heart, I love you darling, & in your life I’m glad to play a part. Tell the kids daddy loves them Continue well at school, Stand up for all your beliefs Don’t be taken for a fool. The wife is crying down the line Darling please don’t go, I love you darling so so much I’ve always told you so. He replied my darling im feeling really kind of weak, Breathlessly he’s coughing, he can hardly speak. If you ever need me just look up to the stars, I will hear your voices And heal up any scars. Suddenly all was quiet The wife screams down the fone, Darling can you hear me, don’t leave me here alone. The towers live on tv start to crumble to the ground, Clouds of smoke then fill the air The world in shock no sound. Crying at the images of all who has lost their lives , Mums,dad’s , Nan’s & grandads, husbands & wives. Rescue teams included and all those left behind To All who were among them, all who did survive, All who were injured All who sadly died. Never in this lifetime that day will be the same For ground zero holds the memories Of every single name.

Those hero’s on that awful day who never thought about their life Who fought to save the innocent To keep each sole alive Those who were pulled to safety Those we lost in vein, Never be forgotten The pain will still remain We will never forget that tragedy For the days will never be the same. But may I say with all my heart In God we put our faith United we stand For eternity were safe Amen

This is a beautifully sad poem. You really wrote your way into my heart. <3

I wrote a poem inspired by number 72. Not really sticking to what it said but thought this was kinda close to what it said…

After dusk, the almost eternal night. The dark, winter sky, full of millions of tiny stars. The sky, a color of blue that seems darker than black.

Sunset, full of an array of colors. Purple, orange, pink, and yellow. Nearly all dark blue.

Right as dawn appears, practically the same sunset hours later. Light wispy clouds fill the sky. Orange, pink, and light blue diffuse in the sky as the sun awakens

Wrote one based off the recipe one (I don’t remember which number)

From the Kitchen of: any teenager ever For: Disaster Ingredients: Social anxiety Existential dread A crush Zero sense of self worth A single class together And no social cues

Steps: (Warning: Do NOT do this if your crush is not single) You’re going to try to talk to your crush. Just say hi. If that doesn’t work, don’t go forward with the rest of these steps. Once you’ve talked to your crush, overthink every single thing you said to them. Do it. Then you’re going to decide you’re stupid for overthinking it. Next, you’re going to wait until they begin speaking to you on their own accord. If they don’t, overthink some more. One day you will think your crush is waving to you in the hallway. They won’t be. They’ll be waving to their friends behind you. Play it cool and pretend you’re doing the exact same thing. Run into the bathroom and cringe at yourself. Keep talking to them and try to partner up with them for a project. If they say no, don’t continue further; you’ll only embarrass yourself. If they say yes, say you need their number for the project. Call them “about the project” and eventually segway into other topics. Continue doing this until you guys eventually call all the time for no reason. Ask them out. If they say no, do not, I repeat, do not act like it was a dare or a joke. It ruins everything. Say “oh okay. Well, can we still be friends?” and continue from that point. If they say yes, go on a date with them outside of school before asking them to be your partner. Eventually break up and either get your heartbroken or break someone else’s heart.

And that is how you make an average teenage disaster. Enjoy!

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132 Best Poetry Prompts and Ideas to Spark Creativity

Many great minds considered poetry to be the superior form of art. It transcends mortality and the transience of human life and becomes an eternal monument of people’s existence and creativity. Poetry that was written hundreds of years ago can still mesmerize, astonish, inspire, move, horrify, and elevate us.

There is an unlimited number of themes that can be used to produce great poetry. Inspiration can find its way in a myriad of ways, so this is a chance for you to get your creative juices flowing. Poetry prompts can be of great help when you are trying to find your poetic voice, or trying to step outside your comfort zone. We hope that these ten sets of themes will bring the best of your writing skills.

Ideas for poems about different types of emotions

It is no wonder that the first set is dedicated to emotions. Poetry is almost synonymous with people’s emotional footprint. These 10 prompts cover a wide range of human emotions, so dive in deep!

Write a poem about a moment when you felt overwhelmingly joyful. Try to convey this emotion by depicting the setting, the time, and what prompted this strong feeling of happiness and joy. Was it a personal success? Perhaps a wish you’ve had for years finally came true. Whatever it was, draw from your own life experience.
Sadness is a complex emotion that all of us have felt. Sadness often gives birth to the most poetical literary pieces because many people have experienced grief, or unhappiness at a certain point in their life. Write about the cause for your sadness. Perhaps you experienced a loss of a loved one, perhaps it was a professional failure. Oftentimes, people feel sad when they had their trust betrayed by a person they considered a friend.
When was the last time you felt truly angry? Think of a moment when you suffered injustice at your workplace, or you were deceived by a person you love and trust. Writing a poem about anger can be a powerful poetic expression and a way to deal with your anger.
Write a poem about a time when you felt scared. It can be told from a perspective of a frightened child, or, perhaps, an adult afraid for his/her life. Sometimes fear is connected to certain expectations and uncertainties about the future.
Imagine that you feel very proud. What prompted this feeling of pride? Being proud is usually the result of an accomplishment on a personal or a private level.
Write a poem about a time in your life when you felt brave and powerful. Describe the circumstances that led to this outburst of bravery in a personal, or professional setting. Let the reader feel the confidence and resolution in your actions through the power of verse.
Alienation is a feeling that can be soul-crushing. All people experience some moments in life when they feel as if they don’t quite fit in, or are overlooked. The feeling of alienation is often linked to the feeling of low self-worth. Write about how you managed to overcome this feeling and who, or what helped you in the process. Many people will recognize themselves in a poem about personal alienation.
Another poetry prompt about an emotion is writing about anxiety. In these modern times filled with busy schedules, it is more than expected that people would feel anxious. Take a deep look within and try to discover the source of anxiety in your own life. Sometimes it is the workplace, sometimes it’s your love life, but sometimes people have existential crises that lead to anxiety due to life’s uncertainty and complexity.
Pessimism is a theme widely explored in poetry. People often feels pessimistic due to a variety of problems in their lives. Writing a poem about pessimism may inspire people to try and find another way to look at the world by seeing things in a new perspective.
On the opposite side of the specter is optimism. A poem about being optimistic often falls in the category of carpe-diem poems, or poems about seizing the day and making the best of every opportunity that presents itself in our lives. Write poetry about a bright time in your life when you felt that every new day offered a new chance to become better, happier, and more successful.

Ideas for poems about love

For many people love represents the meaning of life. With its so many forms, love is an eternal spring for inspiration all over the world and across generations.

A mother holding her baby for the first time is one of the most intense human experiences. Try to capture the deepest connection between two human beings that happens instantly. Find a new way to depict the unconditional love that is born with the birth of the baby.
Write a poem about love between siblings. Siblings, especially when they are younger, sometimes have strange ways of showing their love for one another. Write about the big and small gestures that describe the loving connection between brothers and sisters.
Do you believe in love at first sight? Describe the setting, the time, and the situation in which two strangers meet and instantly develop strong feelings of affection. You can write it in a form of a dialogue, or use love letters. You can also give their personal perspectives in different stanzas.
The theme is “a marriage proposal.” Imagine that this poem is written by a person who is planning to propose to their partner. List all the reasons why you think that these two lovers are perfect for each other.
Love stories are never absolutely perfect. Write about a fight between two spouses. Describe the circumstances and the reasons for experiencing anger towards the person you love. Present both sides of the argument. Try to find an elegant solution to the fight and end the poem with a reconciliation.
Not every fight ends in making peace. Unfortunately, some love stories end in divorce. Write about the complex feelings that the two ex-lovers experience in the process.
Unrequited love can be horrible and depressing. The world’s greatest literature includes poem about unrequited love. Try to draw from either personal experience, or from people who are close to you. How did you try to win the other person over? What was the major obstacle? Were you disillusioned about love afterwards?
Write a poem about the one who got away. Start by describing the first date, the first kiss, the first fight, and the last fight before the end of the romance. Write about the expectations you both had from the relationships, the red flags, the disappointment, and the lost love.
Write a poem about the love between your grandparents. How did they show their affection for one another? Which small love gestures did you enjoy witnessing as a child? What did you learn from seeing how much they still care for each other? Try to portray the respect and devotion of a long-lasting relationship.
Talk about love in general. Write about the reasons why it is a vital part of human’s experience. Meditate upon your own experiences regarding different kinds of love. Write about the ways in which love makes us better people. Find different ways to depict the manner in which love enriches our souls.

Ideas for poems about life in general

Life is mysteriously beautiful, complex, difficult, and painful. You can show your appreciation for it, by writing on at least one of the following ten prompts.

Growing old is an important part of the life cycle. Some people fear the inevitable end so much that they don’t live their life to the fullest. Others are older and wiser, so they happily pass their knowledge and wisdom to the future generations. Write about your own experience, or how the old age of family members has affected your own life.
Write a poem about a specific accomplishment in your life and how it has improved you as a person.
The main theme of the poem is “the life cycle.” Everything which is born eventually dies, and the cycle starts again.
Write a poem about the experience of a couple who is expecting a baby. Write about the overwhelming emotions, love, affection, and care that the future parents feel.
There are many obstacles in life, and facing them is an important aspect in a person’s life. Write a poem about the potential hardships in life and how they affect people’s lives.
Write a poem from a child’s point of view. Remember how you used to perceive the world and how you tried to explain things to yourself using child’s logic. The poem will depict the sweetly naïve child’s perceptions of the world.
Write a poem about hope. Life is hard and complex as it is, so hope is often our driving force. Think of a time when you were hopeful.
Write a poem about a usual, boring day. Find poetry in the monotony of life.
Write a poem about travelling to a foreign country. Capture the essence of changing scenery, and dwell on the way travelling makes us more open-minded.
Think of a time when you were badly hurt. Write a poem about how you dealt with the pain.

Ideas for poems about death

People from every culture and generation in the world have been obsessed with understanding death and what comes after it. It brings, sadness, nostalgia, wisdom. These ten prompts can stir your imagination and inspire philosophical thought about the most mysterious concept in the world.

Write a poem about the fondest memory you have of a person who had passed away. Why is this memory so special? How did you feel when this person died?
Death is often personified. Write a poem addressing Death as a person. What is it that you would like to tell him? What would you want to ask him?
Imagine that you are Death and you hate your vocation. How do you justify your actions? You can use a lighter tone for the poem.
Write a poem about a person who had a near-death experience. What happened to them? How did they survive? Did they change for the better after it?
Write a poem about a real or an imaginary genocide.
Write a poem about a person trying to deceive Death and reach immortality.
Write a poem about the death of a pet. What did you do to help you deal with the loss?
Imagine that you have only a day to live. What would you do?
Write a poem about the first time you understood the concept of death.
How do you want to be remembered after you die? Write a poem about how your death is going to affect your loved ones.

Ideas for poems about philosophy

People are gifted with intelligence, wisdom, and the power to think in abstract ways. People’s quest to understand the meaning of life and the world surrounding us is a fantastic basis for writing poetry.

Write a poem about what you perceive to be the meaning of life.
Friendship is a type of human connection that makes people happier and healthier in every possible way. Write a poem about your best friend, or somebody you’ve lost.
The thirst for knowledge is a concept that defines us as a human race. Write a poem about the eternal quest for knowledge.
Imagination is a distinctly human quality. Write a poem about the role imagination plays in creating art.
Write a poem inspired by the Machiavellian quote that the goal justifies the means.
Write a poem about people’s ancient desire to explain the natural phenomena by inventing elaborate mythological stories.
Write a poem about the good and the bad aspects of humility.
Patience teaches us a valuable lesson about controlling our desires. Write a poem about a time when you had to be patient when you wanted something.
Write a poem about the benefits from daily meditation.
Write a poem about perfection. Think of the combination of aesthetics and ethics and how perfection can be achieved.

Ideas for poems about everyday things

Sometimes the most poetic compositions are created out of the simplicity of life. These ten prompts can help you find poetry in the smallest of things around you.

Write a poem about your everyday little rituals.
Write a poem about raindrops slowly falling down the window glass while you’re thinking about your life in general.
Write a poem about a relaxing walk in the park. Use natural imagery, but also try to depict the noises you hear: rustling, splashing, chirping, etc.
Write a short poem about the simple pleasure one gets from eating a juicy piece of fruit.
Pets are an important part in our lives. Write a poem about the joyfulness from playing with your pet.
Everybody makes mistakes, so write a poem about apologizing to somebody for something you’ve done.
Write a poem about a sunny morning when you went out and bought some flowers from a flower shop.
Eating a dessert might be the most relaxing and enjoyable part of dinner. Write a short poem about eating a delicious dessert.
Write a poem about a time when you didn’t have electricity due to a heavy storm, so you had to read a book using a candlelight.
Think of an activity that relaxes you before falling asleep and write a poem about it. Perhaps the activity can be listening to Mozart!

Ideas for poems about time

Time, even for scientists, is one of the most interesting concepts. Its abstractness has served as an inspiration for many philosophical and literary works. The following prompts can guide you into writing poetry about different complexities of the notion of time.

Write a poem about a childhood memory that still brings you joy when you think about it.
Write a poem about the modern age we live it. What is positive and what is negative about living today
Think of a lost opportunity because the timing wasn’t right. Write a poem about the importance of using every opportunity, which is difficult because people often find excuses for their failures.
Write about a person who has wasted his/her youth. This person feels immensely remorseful.
Waking up after having spent a few months in a coma can make people reevaluate their life choices and decisions.
Write a poem about a time in the past when you experienced an epiphany – a sudden realization of great truth.
Write about the development of the human life, starting from the time a person is a toddler.
Describe the sunset and use it as a metaphor for the end of a person’s life.
Describe the sunrise and link it metaphorically to the concept of birth.
Write a poem about an antique clock.

Ideas for poems about different forms of art

Poetry has always been regarded as one of the most sophisticated aspects of human existence. As a form of art, it is inevitably connected to other forms of art. These ten prompts can inspire pieces that combine different artforms.

Write a poem about the feelings that overcome you while listening to your favorite music.
Write a poem about a Shakespearean play.
Write a poem about a mysterious painter.
Write a poem from the perspective of a ballet shoes.
Describe the images and stories painted on a Grecian urn.
Imagine that you are a famous painter looking at a freshly finished piece. Write a poem about the painter’s perceptions of a painting.
Write a poem about a day spent in a museum.
Write a poem about a film character that you admire.
Write a poem that will instruct actors on the manner that they should act, which is similar to prince Hamlet’s speech to the players.
Write a modernized version of a famous speech taken from a Renaissance play.

Ideas for poems about historical events

Historia est magistra vitae. Indeed, history teaches us about life. Numerous works have been written celebrating historical events, so this is your chance to use verses to do the same.

Imagine that you lived in the period of Alexander the Great. Write a poem about him.
Write a poem about the hardships in World War I.
Write a poem about life in the industrial revolution in England.
Write a poem about Martin Luther King.
Imagine that you are an archaeologist who makes a startling discovery in Egypt.
Imagine you saw the apple falling on Sir Isaac Newton’s head.
Write a poem about Queen Elizabeth I. She was an exceptional monarch that deserves literary praise.
Write a poem about the trial of Galileo Galilei.
You are Alexander Bell, the person who invented the telephone. How is the world different because of you?
Write a poem about Archimedes and his “eureka” moment.

Ideas for poems about religion and spirituality

If something truly separates us humans from the other forms of life on this planet, it is spirituality. The belief in a higher power is a distinctively human quality. Delve deeper into your own beliefs and spirituality and put your religious experience into words.

How can you restore the faith in God in somebody who seems to have lost it? How can you help this person find his way again?
Imagine that you are one of the three Magi following a star to Bethlehem.
Write a poem about a moment you felt that you are one with nature.
Describe your feelings after meditation. Write about the setting, your surroundings, and the feelings that come rushing in.
Write a poem about the afterlife. It doesn’t have to your own perception. It can be inspired by major religions.
Think of a religious temple you’ve visited. How did it make you feel? Where was it? Is it real, or imaginary?
Everybody has experienced personal hardships. Write a poem about a difficult period in your life and about your prayers to overcome it.
The death of a close family member, or a spouse can be the most traumatic experience in a person’s life. Write about your relationship to God after you lost somebody you loved. Did it change?
Write a poem about temptation. Did you give in to the temptation? How did you feel after that?
Imagine that you are God for only a day. What would you do with your power?

Ideas for poems about family life

The family life is in the core of a healthy society. Family ties can bring you joy, sadness, love, pride, etc. Use the following prompts to express your understanding of family life.

Write a poem about a child who gets a puppy as a Christmas present.
Describe a family trip to the ZOO. The tone can be lighter, and it can be told from the children’s point of view.
Write a poem about a family summer vacation. Draw inspiration from from jumping into the water, sunbathing, building sand castles, exploring cities’ architecture and culture. A summer vacation brings the best in every family, so you could go back to your own childhood in order to depict a realistic representation of the feeling.
You are celebrating Christmas with your extended family. Write a poem about the conversation around the dinner table.
Imagine that you are a mother, or a father expecting a child. You have created a new heartbeat in the world. Try to depict the wonders that surround procreation.
You are planning a surprise birthday party for you father and you’ve invited all of his close friends into his home.
Write a poem celebrating your parent’s 40-year anniversary. Tell them why this is a special event for you, how much they’ve touched your life, and how much affection you have for them.
Imagine that you are stuck with your sibling in an elevator for two hours. What are you going to talk about?
Write a poem about leaving the home you were born in and moving to anew place. Try to portray the strong feelings of nostalgia and the memories that arise from packing your life in card boxes.
Write a poem about an ill family member. Use your verses to make them feel better and to bring hope that everything will turn out alright in the end.

Ideas for poems about nature and travelling

Nature is a powerful and mesmerizing force that sustains us. We are a part of nature, and nature is within all of us. These ten prompts can serve as an inspiration for you to create an homage to this planet.

Write a poem about the beginning of spring and the new cycle of life. Use natural imagery, colors, and active verbs that would signify the awakening of nature.
Think of a city that you haven’t visited yet, but you really want to. Why is it so? Is it because it is exotic? Is it because of its architecture? Perhaps, you are more interested in the people and their culture.
Write a poem about a natural phenomenon. Are you astonished by it? Is it devastating for people? Focus on the power of nature.
Imagine that you are a raindrop and describe your journey.
Many poems have been written about the Sun and the Moon. Try to find a different angle when writing about them.
Write a poem about meeting an interesting/mysterious/funny person on a train in a foreign country. How did you start the conversation? How long did you talk? Did you explore the city together?
Imagine that you are on top of Mount Everest. How do you feel? Who are you with? How can you inspire other mountaineers to conquer the highest mountain peak?
The ocean, unlike the earth, can’t be conquered by humans. The ocean is too powerful and people are it his mercy during every voyage, regardless of the length. Write a poem about the respect people should have for this large body of water.
Write a poem about the change of seasons and the passing of time.
Imagine that you’ve been granted to power to fly for a month. Where would you go? Why? How do you think your life and perceptions will change after that month?

Ideas for poems with supernatural elements

Human’s imagination is limitless and astonishing. Centuries ago people would come together to tell stories, often incorporating supernatural elements in their accounts. By doing so, they were able to cause catharsis. Mythologies were created because people couldn’t explain natural phenomena. The fight between personifications of good and evil have been of great interest for millions of literature lovers. Here are 12 prompts to help you get started.

Imagine that you are moving into what others believe to be a haunted house.
How far would you go to save a loved one? Would you make a deal with the devil?
You are sage who gives advice to people you believe have kind hearts.
You are a dragon defending your family from human invaders.
Write a poem about a princess locked in a high tower and who isn’t allowed to look at the real world outside her windows.
You find a magic ring in your grandmother’s old casket. You can heal whomever you want on the expense of another human being.
A man who presumably has died at sea returns on Halloween to his old house to visit his grieving mother.
You have the ability to communicate with trees and gain wisdom.
Write a poem from the point of view of a werewolf.
Write a poem about the three Fates who decide on the fate of a baby.
Imagine that world is slowly disappearing and nobody could explain how. Offer a solution to the problem.
You have the ability to foretell the future. You see a great tragedy on a large scale that is to happen in a month. What do you do to stop it? Can you really alter the future with your actions?

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15 Fun Poetry Activities for High School

April 8, 2019 // by Lindsay Ann // 3 Comments

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High School Students + Fun Poetry Activities

If you’re an English teacher, looking for fun poetry activities for high school or middle school students, I’ve got you covered. I’m opening up my poetry toolbox and sharing some of my favorite (and most successful) poetry games and activities! Whether you’re looking for a stand-alone lesson or something more, there’s something here for everyone.

Pop Sonnets

The creation of pop sonnets is one of my favorite poetry activities to use in conjunction with the reading of a Shakespearean play, but it can be used as a stand-alone lesson. The hook is that modern-day songs have been turned into Shakespearean sonnets. You can study one of Shakespeare’s sonnets and ask students to modernize it. Then, work in reverse by re-working a modern-day song as a sonnet. Or, just use this as a “hook” to help students feel more comfortable with Shakespearean language. Take a look and thank me later.

Songs as Poetry

Studying modern-day songs is a great way to teach about figurative language and poetic devices while studying poetry. Try reading the lyrics, but omitting or re-writing the metaphors and talking about the change in message/meaning. Look for examples of imperfect rhyme in one of Eminem’s cleaner songs. Study poems as paired texts . Analyze lines from a famous soundtrack. Ask students to bring in their favorite songs and discuss. So. Many. Options!

Here are 12 great songs to analyze if you aren’t sure where to start:

“Across the Universe” by the Beatles
“Angel” by Sarah McLachlan
“Blank Space” by Taylor Swift
“Chasing Pavements” by Adele
“Infinity” by Mariah Carey
“Stereo Hearts” by Gym Class Heroes
“Counting Stars” by One Republic
“It’s Time” by Imagine Dragons
“Imagine” by John Lennon
“Mad World” by Gary Jules
“Zombie” by The Cranberries
“Letter to Me” by Brad Paisley

Slam Poetry

Students need to know that poetry is not dead. It’s living. It’s breathing. It’s storytelling. It’s cool. In April, my classes come alive with the magic of slam poetry as students become authors and performers. They re-discover wonder and learn to let down their guard. They learn that there is intersectionality between their story and the stories of others. They are appreciated. They appreciate others. When I use this fun poetry activity for high school students , my classroom really becomes a true community.

Grab my slam poetry “mini” unit to get your students started with slam poetry!

Not sure which slam poems are school-appropriate and engaging? Here are 40 of my favorite slam poems !

Paint Chip Poetry

This poetry writing activity is FREE if you’re willing to grab some paint chips from your local hardware store, preferably ones with multiple colors in one. Or, Amazon sells an awesome paint chip poetry “game.”

Have students use one of the color names as the title for a poem.
Have students write poems in stanzas, using each of the color names as inspiration.
Have students use all of the color names somewhere in a poem.
Have students choose two contrasting colors and make a poem of contrasts.
Have students choose two complimentary colors and make a poem.
Have students choose a color and write an identity poem.

Blackout Poetry

This is an oldie, but goodie poetry writing exercise for high school students. Copy a page or two from a whole class novel. Or better yet, choose a completely divergent text, maybe a science textbook or page from a dictionary. Students string together words on the page to form a poem, and black-out the rest of the words. If they want to go above and beyond, they can create an original illustration to accompany their blackout poem.

Book Spine Poetry

Take your students to the library (or have them browse a site like Goodreads) and challenge them to create poems from book titles. Each title becomes a line in the poem. An optional challenge: have students choose (or randomly draw) a theme, and their poem has to relate to their chosen theme. If you’re looking for some FREE templates, I’ve got you covered: Click Here ! I created these templates as a quick fun poetry activity for high school sophomores after my librarian told me that having my classes pull so many books would be a pain to re-shelve.

Poetry Tasting

A lot of teachers are loving my reading progressive dinner stations . Poems are short and accessible texts that always rock when used with this activity.

Here are some options for poetry stations, a fun group poetry activity:

Choose a certain kind of poem or a certain poetic movement to explore at ALL the stations, i.e. the ghazal or Imagist poetry.
Choose different kinds of poems or movements to explore at each station.
Choose poems related to ONE thematic idea.
Choose poems written by teenagers.
Choose “famous” poems.
Choose slam poems.

Poetry Transformations

If you’re studying word choice and tone in poetry, why not have students transform a poem, switching from one tone to another? Then, have students write a reflection analyzing why they made 4-5 important changes.

Found Poems

This poetry activity is exactly what it sounds like. Have students choose / cut-out words from magazines to form “found” poems. Or, have students listen to a TED talk or story, writing down a certain # of words they hear. Then, ask them to use these words + ones of their own to write an original poem.

Easter Egg Poems

If ’tis the season, you might as well use those plastic easter eggs you may have lying around. Put “poetry inspiration” in each egg. At the very least, I suggest a word or phrase. If you want to go “all-in,” create a combination of the items below:

Random household objects, i.e. a piece of string, a bead
Newspaper/magazine clippings
Words/phrases
Famous first lines
A “mentor” poem, copied and folded up

Tell students that their challenge is to write a poem inspired by these objects. Or, if you prefer, have students incorporate words / ideas from each object in their poem.

Favorite Poem Project

If you’ve never seen the site “ Favorite Poem Project ,” I suggest checking it out as a poetry unit resource. The site’s goal is to interview a variety of different people about their “favorite poems.” In each short video, an individual shares a personal connection to his/her poem and reads the poem out loud.

After being a fan of this site for some time, I decided to have my students make their own “favorite poem” videos . They explored, chose a poem that they liked “best,” and created videos on Flipgrid discussing their thoughts about the poem and reading it aloud. These videos were then viewed by classmates. Everyone enjoyed this a lot!

Metaphor Dice

Poems as Mentor Texts

Using mentor texts for writing is a powerful strategy for poetry instruction, yet one that I find myself “skipping” because there isn’t time. I have to remind myself to “make” the time because it’s important. If we’re going to spend time analyzing texts, it only makes sense to have students try to use those writing moves in their own writing. After all, students should be writing frequently, and not always for an assessment grade.

Here are 12 great mentor poems if you’re not sure where to start:

“ We Real Cool ” by Gwendolyn Brooks
“ Montauk ” by Sarah Kay
“ This is Just to Say ” by William Carlos Williams
“ Mother to Son ” by Langston Hughes
“ My Father’s Hats ” by Mark Irwin
“ Chicago ” by Carl Sandburg
“ Entrance ” by Dana Gioia
“ My Father is an Oyster ” by Clint Smith
“ If ” by Rudyard Kipling
“ Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market ” by Pablo Neruda
“ The Bean Eaters ” by Gwendolyn Brooks
“ The Summer I Was Sixteen ” by Geraldine Connolly
“ Where I’m From ” by George Ella Lyon (As a bonus, students can submit their poems to the “I am From” project. ) p.s. If you’re looking for ready-to-use templates, here you go !

Magnetic Poetry

A fun activity to fill extra class time, or just for fun: magnetic poetry . Give each student (or pairs of students) a handful of magnetic poetry pieces. See what they come up with. Take pictures and display around the room.

Interactive Poetry Bulletin Board

Sort of like magnetic poetry, but with a twist, it’s fun to set-up an interactive bulletin board as a fun poetry activity for high school students to try before or after class. You can do this in several different ways.

Poem of the day + a “feel-o-meter” for students to rate the poem on a scale from “mild sauce” to “hot sauce.” You can have students use push pins to vote.
Large scale magnetic poetry + a bulletin board becomes “push pin poetry.” You choose the words. Students move them around to form poems.

Hey, if you loved this post, I want to be sure you’ve had the chance to grab a FREE copy of my guide to stream l ined grading . I know how hard it is to do all the things as an English teacher, so I’m over the moon to be able to share with you some of my best strategies for reducing the grading overwhelm.

Click on the link above or the image below to get started!

About Lindsay Ann

Lindsay has been teaching high school English in the burbs of Chicago for 19 years. She is passionate about helping English teachers find balance in their lives and teaching practice through practical feedback strategies and student-led learning strategies. She also geeks out about literary analysis, inquiry-based learning, and classroom technology integration. When Lindsay is not teaching, she enjoys playing with her two kids, running, and getting lost in a good book.

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20 Easy Poetry Writing Prompts and Exercises

Although I mostly write fiction now, I started out writing poems. My MFA is even in poetry. I’ve taught beginning poetry workshops at university and also in some fairly unusual settings.

I know a lot of people can use ideas for poems, poetry writing prompts, and inspiration. Even if you write poetry all the time, one of these idea starters might spark your muse or take your writing in a fresh direction. And if you’re a teacher—whether you teach creative writing, English, or grade school—you might be able to adapt one of these for your class!

My favorite thing about poetry is that there aren’t any real rules about how to write a poem. When you find your creative inspiration—whether it’s love, life, or something else—you can just let the words flow. (You can always shape it up later.)

Here are some idea starters, prompts, and exercises that have worked for me before as a poet. You might want to pin or bookmark them for future reference!

20 Easy Poetry Writing Prompts and Exercises #ideas for poems #how to write a poem #classroom #creative writing #idea starters

1. Pick a song on your iPod, phone, or a playlist at random and let it influence you as you quickly write a first draft of a poem.

2. Go to a café, library, or fast food restaurant. Sit where you can see the door. Write a poem about the next person who walks in.

3. You can also do this in a public place where there are a lot of people talking: write a poem based on an overheard conversation.

4. Write a poem about a wild animal. Mary Oliver, who passed away recently and who was such a great talent and inspiration, has written many poems like this, including “The Hermit Crab,” “ The Shark ,” and “ Wild Geese .”

5. Write a poem inspired by a piece of art. (By the way, the word for a poem or literary work inspired by visual art is ekphrasis . Pretty cool, right?)

6. Write a poem with a refrain: a line or a few lines that repeat, like the chorus of a song.

7. This isn’t the easiest poetry-writing exercise…but I’ve gotten some good poems this way!

Set your alarm for two hours earlier than you usually wake up. Put a notebook and pen next to your bed. When you wake up, free-write for about fifteen minutes. (“Free-writing” means “writing down whatever pops into your head, without thinking too hard about it.”) If you woke up in the middle of a dream, use the dream as inspiration; otherwise, just write whatever comes into your head. Go back to sleep. Later, turn your free-writing into a poem.

8. Write a poem that’s an open letter to a whole group of people.

9. Write a poem that’s a set of directions or instructions.

10. Write a poem about a food. The poet Kevin Young has many examples to inspire you, including “Ode to Gumbo”:

11. Write a poem in which every line begins with the same word. You can change that in revision…or maybe you won’t want to.

12. For this one, you’ll need to either write in a notebook or journal, or on your phone. Go to a store that would be a weird place to write a poem—like a convenience store, a department store, or a drugstore—and write a quick poem.

13. Write a poem that focuses on one color. Federico García Lorca’s poem “Somnambulist Ballad,” translated from the Spanish, or Diane Wakoski’s poem “Blue Monday” might inspire you.

14. Pretend you’re a fictional character from a book, movie, or TV show. Write a poem in their voice.

15. Write an acrostic poem. The first letter of each line spells out a word vertically down the left-hand side of the page. Even for serious poets who would never try to publish an acrostic poem, this is a great exercise to get creative juices flowing.

16. lose your eyes, flip through a book, and put your finger on a page. Whatever word you’re pointing at, use it as a poem title and write that poem.

17. Write a poem late at night, by hand, by candlelight.

18. Fill a page with free-writing using your non-dominant hand. This can help you tap into less rational, more creative thought patterns.

19. Write a poem with very long lines. Walt Whitman’s collection Leaves of Grass might inspire you.

20. Write a poem saying goodbye to someone or something. It could be a happy poem, a sad poem, or both.

I hope you enjoyed this list of creative writing exercises and poetry prompts!

Would you like some more ideas? My book 5,000 Writing Prompts has 80 more poetry-writing exercises in addition to the ones on this list, plus hundreds of master plots by fiction genre, dialogue and character prompts, and much more.

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Do you have a method or exercise that inspires you? Let us know in the comments! I’ve said it before, but I learn so much from the comment section, and I always appreciate it. Thanks for reading, and happy writing!

5 JOURNAL EXERCISES FOR SELF-ESTEEM #journal exercises for healing #journal prompts #journal exercises for depression #journal ideas #journal exercises for anxiety #mental health #creativity

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Unlock Your Imagination: 15 Poetry Writing Exercises to Fuel Your Creativity

Hello and welcome! Are you feeling stuck in a poetic rut? Are you searching for new ways to unlock your imagination and fuel your creativity? Look no further! In this article, we will explore 15 poetry writing exercises that will tap into your inner poet and inspire you to create beautiful verses. Whether you are a seasoned poet or just beginning your poetic journey, these exercises will provide you with a fresh perspective and help you discover exciting new avenues for your creativity. So grab your pen and paper, and let\’s embark on a poetic adventure together!

Introduction

What is creative writing and why is it important for poetry?

Creative writing involves using imagination and original ideas to express thoughts and emotions. It is an essential skill for poets as it allows individuals to explore their creativity and develop unique ways of expressing themselves in the form of poetry. Through creative writing, poets are able to bring their thoughts, feelings, and experiences to life in a captivating and thought-provoking manner.

1. Visualization Exercises

Immersing in sensory experiences

One of the most effective creative writing exercises for poetry is the practice of immersing oneself in sensory experiences. By engaging the senses and visualizing specific scenes or objects, poets can enrich their writing and evoke powerful emotions in their readers. For example, a poet may envision a serene beach with the sound of crashing waves, the feel of warm sand beneath their feet, the salty scent of the ocean breeze, and the vibrant colors of the sunset. By immersing themselves in these sensory details, poets can create vivid and memorable descriptions that transport readers to the scene and evoke a range of emotions.

Describing abstract concepts with imagery

Another valuable exercise for poets to enhance their creative writing skills is describing abstract concepts with imagery. Abstract concepts such as love, time, and freedom can be difficult to explain using concrete language, but through vivid imagery and metaphorical language, poets can bring these concepts to life in their poems. For instance, a poet may use the image of a free-flying bird to represent the concept of freedom. By utilizing imaginative and descriptive language, poets can make abstract ideas more tangible and relatable to their readers.

Creating vivid narratives

A key aspect of creative writing for poetry is the ability to create vivid narratives within the poems. By visualizing characters, settings, and events, poets can develop compelling storylines and engage readers on a deeper level. This exercise allows poets to experiment with different perspectives, voices, and plot structures, adding depth and complexity to their poetic compositions. Through the use of descriptive language and a well-constructed narrative, poets can transport readers into a world of imagination and captivate them with their storytelling abilities.

Overall, creative writing exercises play a vital role in poetry by encouraging poets to think imaginatively and use language in innovative ways. By practicing visualization exercises, poets can immerse themselves in sensory experiences, describe abstract concepts with captivating imagery, and create vivid narratives within their poems. These exercises not only enhance the creative writing skills of poets but also allow them to connect with their readers on a deep and emotional level.

2. Wordplay Exercises

Exploring word associations

When it comes to writing poetry, word associations can be a powerful tool for creating unique and unexpected imagery. By connecting unrelated words and exploring their meanings, poets can uncover hidden connections and generate fresh ideas for their poems. To dive into this exercise, start by selecting two completely unrelated words. For example, \”fire\” and \”feathers.\”

Next, take some time to brainstorm all the different associations and images that come to mind when you think about each word individually. Think about the connotations, emotions, and sensory experiences connected to each word. For \”fire,\” you might think of warmth, destruction, passion, or even a flickering candle. For \”feathers,\” you might imagine lightness, flight, birds, or a soft touch.

Now, take those associations and try to find unexpected connections between the two words. How might \”fire\” and \”feathers\” relate in a poetic context? Perhaps your exploration leads you to the idea of a phoenix rising from ashes, where the destructive nature of fire is balanced by the delicate beauty of feathers. This exercise encourages you to think outside the box and experiment with surprising combinations that can bring new depth to your poetry.

Experimenting with word sounds

Poetry is as much about sound as it is about meaning, and wordplay exercises that focus on sound can help you create memorable and melodic poems. By playing with the musicality and rhythm of words, you can add an extra layer of interest and impact to your work. Here are a few techniques to get you started:

Alliteration: This involves using the same consonant sound at the beginning of multiple words in a line or stanza. For example, \”The sly snake slithered silently.\”

Assonance: This technique focuses on repeated vowel sounds within words. For instance, \”The cat ran past the black hat.\”

Onomatopoeia: Using words that imitate the sounds they represent can bring a sense of immediacy and vividness to your poetry. Think of words like \”buzz,\” \”hiss,\” or \”crash.\”

Don\’t be afraid to experiment and play with different sounds and combinations. Read your poems aloud to test how the chosen sounds flow and create a unique auditory experience for your readers.

Using word constraints

Setting limitations on word choices can be an excellent exercise to challenge your creativity and expand your poetic toolbox. By imposing constraints such as using only monosyllabic words or specific word lengths, you force yourself to think outside your usual patterns and find new ways to express your ideas.

For example, try writing a poem using only one-syllable words. This exercise encourages you to pay attention to the impact of each word and how they interact with one another. Additionally, it forces you to find alternative ways to convey complex concepts or emotions within the given constraint.

Similarly, you can experiment with poems that have a specific word count, such as a haiku or a sonnet. The limited space and structure push you to choose words meticulously and find innovative ways to convey your message.

These word constraints can help you break free from creative blocks and discover fresh approaches to writing poetry. Through embracing limitations, you\’ll likely stumble upon unexpected and delightful results.

3. Writing Prompts

Writing prompts are a fantastic way to ignite creativity and inspire poets to explore various themes and styles. They provide a starting point for the writing process and can lead to unexpected and exciting results. In this section, we will discuss three different types of writing prompts that can help poets hone their craft and elevate their poetry to new heights.

Writing from different perspectives

One of the most effective ways to add depth and diversity to poetry is by writing from different perspectives. This exercise challenges poets to step into the shoes of various characters, objects, or even abstract concepts and write from their point of view. By doing so, poets can gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives and infuse their poems with unique voices.

Whether it\’s exploring the thoughts and emotions of a historical figure, imagining the world through the eyes of a beloved pet, or giving a voice to an inanimate object like a tree or a river, this exercise encourages poets to stretch their imagination and breathe life into their poems.

Exploring emotions and memories

Poetry has a unique power to convey emotions and evoke memories. By using prompts that trigger personal experiences or intense emotions, poets can embark on a journey of self-reflection and delve into their own memories and feelings. This exercise allows poets to tap into their emotional reserves and translate their innermost thoughts and experiences into powerful and heartfelt poems.

These prompts can be as simple as recalling a joyful childhood memory, exploring the complexities of love and loss, or examining a challenging life event. By drawing from personal experiences, poets can create authentic and relatable poems that resonate with readers on a deep and meaningful level.

Responding to visual stimuli

Visual art has the power to inspire and spark the imagination. By using images or artwork as prompts, poets can enhance their creative process and explore the visual elements present in the piece. This exercise encourages poets to closely observe the details, colors, and composition of the visual stimuli and translate them into poetic language.

Whether it\’s a photograph, a painting, or even a captivating illustration, visual prompts can transport poets to different worlds and stimulate their creativity. They can inspire vivid descriptions, create powerful imagery, and stretch the boundaries of poetic expression. By expanding their engagement with the visual arts, poets can develop a heightened sense of observation and infuse their poetry with a newfound creativity and imagination.

Writing prompts offer valuable opportunities for poets to enhance their creativity, explore new themes, and develop their poetic voice. By engaging in exercises that encourage writing from different perspectives, exploring emotions and memories, and responding to visual stimuli, poets can expand their artistic horizons and create compelling and evocative poetry that resonates with readers.

4. Experimental Forms

Writing in different poetic forms

One way to enhance your poetry writing skills is to explore and experiment with various poetic forms. This exercise encourages poets to step out of their comfort zones and try writing sonnets, haikus, or free verse. Each form has its own set of rules and structures, presenting a new challenge for poets to adapt their styles and explore new creative possibilities.

Collaborative poetry exercises

Collaboration can be a great way to expand your poetic horizons and produce unique and diverse works. By joining forces with other poets or even artists from different disciplines, you can explore the intersection of creative minds. This exercise not only allows you to learn from others but also encourages you to combine your individual perspectives and creative approaches in order to co-create compelling and imaginative poetry. The result is a collaborative piece that showcases the fusion of different ideas and styles.

Found poetry

Found poetry is a creative exercise that involves incorporating existing texts into your poems. It can be a fun and innovative approach to writing that pushes you to think differently about language and composition. In this exercise, you can take texts from various sources such as newspaper articles, song lyrics, or even old diary entries, and rearrange and repurpose them to create new poems. By working with pre-existing words and phrases, you\’ll have the opportunity to explore unexpected connections and experiment with different ways of expressing ideas and emotions.

These experimental forms not only help you break free from habitual writing patterns but also challenge you to approach poetry from different angles. They encourage you to tap into your creativity, take risks, and discover unique ways of expressing yourself through words.

5. Reflective Exercises

Reflective exercises are an excellent way for poets to explore their personal values, beliefs, and life experiences. These exercises not only foster personal growth but also deepen their connection with their writing.

Exploring personal values and beliefs

One reflective exercise that can be beneficial for poets is exploring their personal values and beliefs. This exercise involves taking the time to reflect on what truly matters to them and why. Poets can ask themselves questions such as:

What are my core values?
What are my beliefs about life, love, and happiness?
How have my values and beliefs evolved over time?
What experiences have shaped my outlook on the world?

By delving into these questions and exploring their personal values and beliefs, poets gain a deeper understanding of themselves. This self-reflection can then be translated into their poetry, resulting in work that is more authentic and resonant.

Writing in response to famous poems

Engaging with renowned poets\’ works is another valuable exercise for poets. By reading and analyzing famous poems, poets can gain insights and perspectives from established voices in the field. One way to take this exercise a step further is by writing in response to these famous poems.

When poets write in response to famous poems, they are not aiming to imitate or replicate the original work. Instead, they are using it as a source of inspiration to create their own unique piece. By responding to famous poems, poets can explore different themes, experiment with different writing styles, and develop their voice.

This exercise allows poets to learn from the masters, understanding what works and why. It also provides a platform for poets to showcase their own creativity and originality.

Using writing as a form of self-expression

Using poetry as a tool for self-expression and emotional release is a powerful exercise that allows poets to authentically communicate their thoughts and feelings. This exercise encourages poets to fully embrace their emotions and channel them into their writing.

One way to practice this exercise is by setting aside dedicated time each day for writing. During this time, poets can let their emotions flow freely onto the page, without judgment or censorship. They can write about their joys, their heartaches, their fears, and everything in between.

By using writing as a form of self-expression, poets can gain a better understanding of themselves and their emotions. They can also create poetry that is deeply personal and relatable to others who may have similar experiences or feelings.

Overall, reflective exercises play a crucial role in a poet\’s growth and development. By exploring personal values and beliefs, responding to famous poems, and using writing as a form of self-expression, poets can deepen their connection with their craft and create poetry that is truly meaningful.

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How to Use Fun Activities to Teach Poetry

When I was first told that I’d be teaching a creative writing class , I immediately wanted to find fun activities to teach poetry. But, as I began to dig a little deeper, I realized that “teaching poetry” was a wide umbrella underneath which are many topics. There’s teaching poetry terms, teaching poetry analysis, and, of course, teaching poetry writing.

Over time, I’ve built up a small arsenal of fun activities to teach poetry in all of its aspects. In this post, I’ll share my favorites with you!

Fun Activities to Teach Poetry Terms

Before you can really get too deep into teaching poetry writing or analysis, students need to become familiar with poetry and literary terms.

There are a few levels to completely teaching vocabulary: teaching students the basic definitions, teaching students how to identify the terms in poetry, and then teaching students how to craft these terms themselves.

Figurative Language Scavenger Hunt

The first thing I do in my creative writing classes is to teach basic figurative language terms. This way, we all have a working definition from which to talk about our creative writing pursuits throughout the quarter.

I do this first with a simple presentation and a handout.

Then the fun enters : a figurative language scavenger hunt . I hang posters around the room with poems on them. Every student gets a handout with a figurative language term, a place to write an example, and a place to craft an original example.

Students must then walk around the room, reading the various poems to find an example of each type of figurative language. This gets kids up and moving (and often working together!) in a class that can very easily involve sitting the whole time.

To make the scavenger hunt even more fun, offer a small prize like candy for the first few to complete the hunt, or even divide the class into teams!

After students have found examples of each literary term, I go over them and give students a few minutes to create their own examples.

(You can get this whole activity, including the poetry posters, right here!)

Figurative Language Tasting Activity

Once students have a basic understanding of the figurative language terms, I host a figurative language tasting .

I go into way more detail about a figurative language tasting in this post , but basically, I bring in small treats and students attempt to write about each using sensory language and literary techniques.

The students have a lot of fun being creative, trying to one-up one another’s similes and metaphors, and, of course, eating the candy!

(You can get a worksheet and lesson plan for this one for FREE right here!)

Figurative Language Setting Activity

To show that students truly have mastered figurative language, I have them use it to describe a setting in this activity.

Two things that always make students more engaged are choice and having something they can actually hold. This activity involves both!

In my figurative language setting activity, I offer students a set of pictures. Each picture has a different landscape on it.

Students each pick a photo . There is sometimes competition over who gets which one and students get pretty attached to “their” photo once they begin the work.

Then, students must choose a writing task–are they writing a vacation brochure? Describing an animal’s habitat? Journaling as an explorer?

Using their chosen writing task and some descriptive figurative language techniques, students then describe their chosen landscape in stunning and sensory detail.

Fun Activities to Teach Poetry Analysis

Once students have a handle on some basic literary terms, you’ll probably want them to put that new language to work analyzing some poetry. Even in my creative writing classes, I include poetry analysis because I believe that using mentor texts for writing can be so powerful.

Poetry Warm-ups

The easiest way I have found to include regular poetry analysis without becoming too boring is to use poetry analysis warm-ups . I go into more detail in this post , but every week in my creative writing class, we look at a different mentor poem.

Each day that week, we analyze a very small chunk of that poem. For example, maybe on Monday we’ll break down the rhyme scheme, but on Tuesday we’ll find all the similes in the poem.

This only takes about five minutes a day. I can keep students focused on poetry analysis for five minutes, but after that their attention starts to wane.

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Still, those five minutes are gold. It’s enough time for students to apply what they already know, practice essential skills, talk to others at their table, and take pride in sharing their ideas.

The fun really comes in at the end of the week, when we use that poem we’ve studied as a mentor text for writing our own . This really pushes students to their creative edge.

Trying to write like Emily Dickinson is so different than trying to write like E. E. Cummings, who in turn is so different from Paul Laurence Dunbar!

Exposing students to variety–especially poets who break the rules–without overanalyzing or overwhelming them with analysis can really be fun! Especially when students know they’ll be putting that analysis into practice at the end of the week.

(You can get 10 weeks of poetry warm-up plus a BONUS project right here!)

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Hands-on Poetry Minilessons

I mentioned earlier that making poetry “hands-on” is always a great technique for adding fun to poetry. I try to do this in my literary minilessons.

One of my favorites is my “Show. Don’t Tell” minilesson . After I explain the basic premise of “Show. Don’t Tell”, I have students randomly select a strip of paper. Each strip has a “telling sentence” on it, like “The teacher was angry” or “She was in love.”

Then, students have to rewrite that sentence into a passage that shows that information, rather than simply state it.

The fun is in the challenge–students are randomly assigned a sentence to fix–and in the creativity of showing the detail.

Another one of my favorite poetry minilessons is my Voice Workshop . After I explain what literary voice is to my students, I break them up into groups. Then, I give each group an envelope filled with seemingly random lines of poetry.

The random lines of poetry actually come from three different poems–each with a distinct literary voice–and the student groups must work to unscramble them . In order to do so, they’ll have to combine like voices with like.

This becomes a fun group brain teaser as students try to group like voice with like.

All of my minilessons come with a slideshow presentation and some kind of follow-up activity. You can get the “Show. Don’t Tell” minilesson here or the Literary Voice Minilesson here if you’d like to save yourself some prep time.

Fun Activities to Teach Poetry Writing

Finally! This is probably what you actually came here for, right? Fun activities to teach poetry that gets students writing and creating their own.

Black Out and Found Poetry

Black out and found poetry have become staple activities for any English class. This is a great way to introduce students to creating their own poetry because it’s low-risk and not very intimidating for students.

There’s no blank page or starting from scratch for students here. Because everything they’ll need has already been created for them, students that believe the lie that they’re “not good writers” or “can’t be creative” can bypass those limiting beliefs entirely and still create great poetry.

With black out poetry, students take an article from the newspaper. Then they “black out” the words and phrases they don’t want, hopefully leaving behind a message or short poem.

For found poetry, students can create a poem from scratch, but they can only use the words that they can find in magazines. Their final poems end up these beautiful collages of words.

To do both successfully, students have to be careful and creative in their word choice–essential skills for creative writers–but they get to do so without the burden of having to create everything from scratch.

Black out and found poetry are some of the least intimidating poetry writing you can do with students. ( If you’d like some printable instructions for students and s slideshow of examples, you can get them here .)

“I Am” Poem

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Another non-intimidating starter activity is to write an “I Am” poem . The topic–yourself–is easy and so is the structure. Students basically just have to fill-in-the-blanks mad-lib style and they’ll end up with a wonderful poem.

Even though the poem seems overly simplistic at first, at the end of the quarter, many of my students list their “I Am” poems as their favorite creations from class.

Grab everything you need to teach the “I Am” poem for FREE right here.

Author Study

One final way to add some fun to poetry writing is to give students a choice in they type of poetry students read and write. I love this Author Study Project because it does just that!

Students will choose a poet to study. It’s up to you whether you want to give them free rein or provide a list.

Then, they’ll spend some time analyzing their chosen author’s style before trying to replicate it themselves. Just imagine a class of modern-day Edgar Allan Poes mixed with Elizabeth Acevedos and Maya Angelous!

This is a fantastic culminating project for any creative writing class.

(Eliminate the prep time on this one–it can be a lot–by grabbing everything you need right here!)

Conclusion: Fun Activities to Teach Poetry

Whenever you need fun activities to teach poetry, first, make sure you know what you want to teach. “Poetry” is a big term. Do you want students to know the jargon? The techniques? Or do you just want to get them writing?

Then, know that there are some tried and true methods to making any poetry activity fun:

Get students up and moving
Make the task hands-on
Give students choice
When in doubt, add candy

If you’d like to save yourself time, I have a lot of creative writing activities for sale in my TPT shop and I’m always adding more. Remember my Figurative Language Tasting Activity and “I Am” Poem Activity are free, so these are great places to start!

Poetry Writing Ideas and Activities

by Melissa Donovan | May 11, 2023 | Poetry Writing | 18 comments

Try something new with these poetry writing ideas and activities.

A poem can come out of nowhere and land on the page, fully formed, in just a few minutes. A poem can also be the result of hours (or weeks) of laboring over line breaks, word choices, images, and rhythm.

Poems are funny little things, appearing out of nowhere and disappearing for no apparent reason. Poets have to be diligent: be prepared when a poem arrives, and if it doesn’t, go out and chase it down.

There are many ways to write a poem, and not all of them involve sitting at a desk staring at a glaring screen or curled up in a chair with a pen and a notebook. Instead of waiting for poems to fall out of the sky, try some of these poetry writing ideas and activities.

Poetry Writing Ideas & Activities

Below are some poetry writing ideas mixed with activities to get poetry flowing.

Take a poetry walk. Grab a recorder or a notebook and then set out on foot. You can use a timer and stop every five minutes to jot down a line, or take a break whenever you see something interesting or inspiring and note it. When you get home, work it all into a poem.
Take a snapshot. Write a descriptive poem, choosing a simple subject or scene. The idea is to write a poem that feels like a picture.
Cut and paste. Grab some old magazines, pamphlets, and junk mail and cut out the most interesting words and phrases, and then tape or paste them together to make a poem.
Get personal. Your deepest secrets, innermost desires, regrets, dreams, and fantasies are all excellent sources of inspiration.
Write a response poem. Choose a poem that you admire or that confounds you — perhaps one that disturbs you or contains some idea that you disagree with. Write a poem in response to it.
State your positions. Write a political poem, a philosophical poem, or explore your ideals through image-rich language.
Translate a poem into modern language. Many modern readers don’t care to read poetry that was written hundreds of years ago because the language has changed so much since then. So take one of those poems and update it into a more contemporary vernacular.
Explore your beliefs. What do you value? Which morals do you hold dear? Share your beliefs and express your spirituality through a poem.
Write to music. You can use a song with or without lyrics: give it words or give it new words!
Pay tribute. Write an ode to someone you admire, respect, or love. For a more interesting twist and a challenge, write a tribute poem to someone you’re not that crazy about.
Go big. Get large sheets of paper or use chalk on the driveway and draft a poem in huge, sweeping letters.
Get in form. Many of today’s poets don’t experiment in form. Surprisingly, it tends to open rather than stifle creativity. It’s definitely worth a try.
Make temporary art. Chalk and whiteboards are great for temporary poems. The idea is to create something, and then let it go. You can also write on paper and burn it, shred it, or black it out.
Use doodles. Get a blank piece of paper and allow yourself to doodle on it as you write a poem. See if your doodles give your poem a new angle, either by influencing the content or by giving you interesting or fresh ideas.
Get in shape. Choose a shape in silhouette form, and then fill the shape with words to build a poem into the shape: hearts, animals, people, and symbols (anything recognizable in outline form) work well.

What do you do when your poetry isn’t flowing? Do you have any poetry writing ideas or activities to share? If so, leave a comment, and keep writing.

18 Comments

Ooh, I love these ideas! Especially the writing to music one. I want to go try it right now 🙂

That’s great! Good luck!

Melissa! This is great stuff 🙂 I needed to read this

Thanks, Rhea.

Good ideas! I love this website! One of the things I do is let an emotion go. Feel nothing but it let it run wild and then focus it into a poem. Kinda exhausting but people like my poems guess it works. 🙂 Read them on them on the Barnes and Noble bookclubs.

Thanks! I love poetry that is full of emotion, although I prefer when the emotion is communicated through imagery.

Can I share one?

Yes, you can.

Cool! Ok uh here is one of my little ones.

-Sweet Waters-

Hardened stone ,

circles around,

protecting that,

of the deepest well,

cracks and crumbles,

from batterings and acids,

still the stones hold true,

to that of the well,

where the sweetest waters,

will always flow.

— Holly (aka GS)

Lovely! Thanks for sharing your poem.

No problem! Thank you. I like to share.

Can I share some of them on my blog?

Yes, feel free to use a couple and link back to the rest.

There are some great ideas here for when ideas dry up. I’ll certainly be trying a few. I often find a poem comes to me when I can’t write it down. Like when driving, for example! I also ‘write’ temporary poems in my head.

I do the same with writing temporary poems in my head. If I’m lucky, I get something good that’s worth writing down. Hopefully I remember it!

Most of my poems come out quickly and I let the thoughts dictate if the rhyming pattern is random (usually) or if there is a more tradition form to them. As for inspiration, it can’t be forced. You might be able to write a poem that way, but it isn’t going to be as good as the one from the heart.

I like to let poems flow quickly too, during the first draft. Inspiration can’t be forced, but it can be nudged. We can make a choice to engage in things that inspire us. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Great ideas! Prompts is also a great way to get poetry flowing.

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Poetry Writing

Tips for improving your poetry writing skills.

The section “Poetry Writing Skills” in our guide provides tips and techniques for improving your poetry writing skills. It covers a variety of ways to improve your poetry writing including:

Reading widely: Reading poetry written by other poets can help to expose you to different styles, forms, and techniques, and can inspire you to develop your own unique voice and style.

Experimenting with different forms and structures: Poets can try their hand at different forms of poetry, such as sonnets, haikus, and free verse, and explore different structures and techniques to find the one that works best for them.

Using descriptive language and imagery: Using descriptive language and imagery can help to bring your poetry to life and create a more vivid and engaging experience for your readers.

Paying attention to rhythm and sound: Paying attention to the rhythm and sound of your poetry can help to create a more musical and engaging experience for your readers.

Revising and editing your work: Revising and editing your work can help to improve its structure, imagery, and overall impact on readers.

Overall, the section “Poetry Writing Skills” provides tips and techniques for poets to improve their poetry writing skills. It covers the different ways to improve their skills by reading widely, experimenting with different forms, using descriptive language and imagery, paying attention to rhythm and sound, and revising and editing their work. It is designed to help poets to become more confident and proficient in their writing and to develop their own unique voice and style.

Ideas For Poems: Finding Inspiration

Our section on “Ideas for Poems” is designed to help poets find inspiration for their work and develop their own unique voice and style. It covers different ways to get inspired, from observing the world around to exploring different themes, structures, and techniques. It provides prompts, ideas and tips to help poets to generate new and exciting ideas for their poems.

Why Write Poetry?

Fostering a deeper appreciation for literature and the written word.

Encouraging critical thinking and reflection.

Enhancing creativity and imagination.

Improving language skills and vocabulary.

Poetry writing can be a highly beneficial and rewarding activity for many people. It is a powerful way to express emotions, thoughts, and ideas, and can help to improve writing skills, creativity, and self-expression. Some of the key benefits of poetry writing include:

Emotional catharsis: Poetry allows individuals to explore their emotions and feelings in a safe and creative way, helping to release pent-up emotions and reduce stress and anxiety.

Improved writing skills: Poetry often requires a high level of focus on language, structure, and imagery, which can help to improve writing skills, vocabulary, grammar and learning poetic elements.

Increased creativity: Poetry provides a unique form of creative expression, where individuals can experiment with different styles, forms, and techniques, and push their own creative boundaries.

Self-expression: Poetry can be a powerful tool for self-expression, allowing individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and to communicate them to others.

Empathy and understanding: Poetry can be a powerful way to connect with others, by providing a window into the emotions and experiences of others.

Self-discovery: Writing poetry can help people to better understand themselves, their emotions and experiences, and can help them to uncover new insights and perspectives.

Overall, poetry writing can be a valuable and fulfilling activity that can help to improve emotional well-being, writing skills, and creativity, while also providing a powerful means of self-expression and connection with others.

Poetry Writing Exercises & Prompts

Our guide to “Poetry Writing Exercises & Writing Prompts” provides a variety of exercises and prompts to help poets generate new creative writing ideas and improve their poetry writing skills. It covers different exercises such as free-writing, theme-based, form-based, imagery-based and rhythm-based, to help poets to find new inspiration, explore different emotions and perspectives, experiment with different forms and structures, and to create more vivid and engaging poetry.

An Overview of Our Guide to Poetry Writing

Our guide to poetry writing is divided into three main sub-topics to help aspiring poets develop their skills and find inspiration for their work. There are other options to help with writing poems such as literary devices. While they are useful, we have many other choices available also.

Poetry Writing Skills: This section of the guide covers the basic skills needed to write poetry in a poetic form, including understanding poetic forms and devices, learning to use imagery and metaphor effectively, and developing a strong sense of voice and style. It also covers tips for editing and revising poems, as well as advice for getting published.

Ideas for Poems: This section of the guide provides inspiration and prompts for generating ideas for poems, including tips for observing and writing about the world around you, using personal experiences and emotions as inspiration, and exploring different themes and subjects. Additionally, it covers how to use real-life experiences to inspire poetry, encouraging readers to draw on their own emotions and observations to create powerful and relatable work.

Poetry Writing Exercises and Prompts: This section of the guide includes a variety of exercises and writing prompts to help poets practice their craft and develop their skills, such as writing in different forms, experimenting with different structures and techniques, and using specific words, phrases, or images as inspiration. The prompts will help to push the poets creative boundaries and to explore new ways of writing different kinds of poetry such as free verse poetry. The guide covers the various forms of poetry, from traditional sonnets to modern free verse, and provides examples and exercises to help poets experiment with different forms and find the one that suits them best.

Overall, our guide to the poetry writing process is designed to help poets of all levels improve their skills, find inspiration, and develop their own unique voice and style. It includes a section on how to get published, providing advice on how to submit poetry to literary journals and magazines, as well as tips for building a strong online presence and networking with other poets. Additionally, it covers how to write poetry that is accessible to the readers and how to make it relatable, with practical advice on how to convey complex ideas and emotions in a clear and concise way.

Our guide to writing poems in an excitingly wonderful way mixes well with Grammarly’s post about How to Write a Poem . It is a great guide if you’re ready to begin your own poem writing adventure. We have explored with concrete words and brought to the surface great ideas for anyone to get started writing epic poetry.

Remember to use figurative language, a rhyme scheme and some helpful ideas to get your creative juices flowing! Great poetry always begins with an idea.

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BookWidgets Teacher Blog

Verse in the Virtual World: 30+ creative poetry classroom activities

In celebration of National Poetry Month , International Haiku Poetry Day , and William Shakespeare’s birthday in April, we have a plethora of poetic pursuits, perfectly poised to kindle a keen fondness for verse in learners of all ages. Whether it’s through game-based learning, animated annotations of poetic devices, or exploring expressions of the natual world with ecopoetry , our aim is to make teaching poetry with technology easy for educators and enjoyable for every student with this collection of free, interactive poetry activities. Whether you use these free lessons for a poetry day or teach poetry everyday, we have 30+ creative poetry classroom activities.

From interactive classroom games that bring the timeless verses of Shakespeare and other poets to life, to creative tools that guide students in crafting their own poetic masterpieces, I’ve grouped these engaging digital poetry lessons into three sections for integrating poetry in the classroom:

Gamifying Poetry: Interactive Exploration

Poetic elements: interactive introductions, elevating expression: poetic prowess.

💡 Before we begin: If you are new to BookWidgets, BookWidgets is a content creation and evaluation tool for teachers. We provide the tools to support your students’ learning process from beginning to end with customizable templates (aka widgets) for creating activities and a reporting dashboard to track your students’ progress. I have a digital poetry activity for many of our 40 widget types. You can create your own or duplicate the ones I share by opening the activity and making a copy in your account . After duplicating, you can make changes to the activity, customizing it for your students. By clicking on this link you can access all the digital poetry activities mentioned in this blog post. 💡 Keep in mind : If you integrate BookWidgets into a Learning Management System like Google Classroom , Microsoft Teams , Moodle , Canvas – & more! –, you can use “ Live Widgets ” to keep an eye on your students’ progress in real time to give feedback and support when needed.

In this first set of virtual poetry activities, we merge poetry with game-based learning to spark curiosity and engagement in a gamified instructional manner. Students might guess if a line of poetry is Shakespeare’s or a Hip Hop artist’s, spin a wheel to select a recitation style, match poets to their works, or solve jigsaw puzzles revealing poems. These playful activities make poetry accessible and fun, and transform learning into an interactive adventure, encouraging students to approach poetry in the classroom with enthusiasm and confidence.

1. Is it Hip Hop or Shakespeare?

Why Hip Hop? The lyrics in Hip Hop often follow poetic structures, utilizing techniques such as rhyme, alliteration, assonance, and metaphor to create impactful narratives and imagery. Like poetry, Hip Hop gives voice to personal and societal experiences, exploring themes of identity, struggle, social justice, love, and community. Hip Hop also brings the rhythm and beat of poetry to life through performance: the dynamic interaction between performer and audience in Hip Hop mirrors the recitation of poetry, where the delivery, tone, and pace are crucial to the interpretation and impact of the words (which will serve as a great introduction to poetic meter in our later poetry interactive lessons!).

This first virtual activity connects contemporary lyrics to Shakespeare by having students use this Flash Card widget to guess whether a line of poetry was written by William Shakespeare or various Hip Hop artists such as Tupac, Blackalicious, or Eminem. Can you accurately guess the author of each line? 👇

💡 Pro tip : You can easily transform a Flash Card widget into another widget-type using the import feature . Here I imported the Flash Cards from above to create this Pair Matching activity. Can you accurately match the author with the line? Click to open

2. Playful Poetry Recitations

In this activity, made with a Randomness widget , students take turns spinning two wheels: one to select a poem and the other to choose an emotion or style for their recitation. This playful approach not only breaks the ice, but also encourages students to experiment with expression and intonation, bringing the selected poems to life in unique and sometimes unexpected ways.

Whether it’s reading a classic sonnet with joy or a short verse in a tone of suspense, this engaging classroom poetry exercise is designed to make students comfortable with speaking aloud, exploring the diverse range of emotions poetry can evoke. You can follow each recitation with a discussion about what tone or emotion the poet was actually trying to evoke in the reader.

💡 Pro tip : Open this widget on a smart board for a whole class activity or share this widget via a QR code to create a station activity that gets students up and moving about the room. If using this as part of a station, you could have students record their recitations using Microsoft’s Flip .

3. Digital Magnetic Fridge Poetry

You don’t need an actual refrigerator or physical magnets for this fun poetry exercise! Using a Worksheet widget , teachers can create an interactive poetry activity that helps students practice fine motor skills as they “answer” a Text Drag and Drop question to compose poems on their virtual refrigerator.

💡 Pro tip : Duplicate this widget and edit the words in the word bank by adding in new vocabulary or seasonal terms to create variations that can be used throughout the year.

4. Match the Poem with the Poet

In this Pair Matching poetry activity, students connect poems with their poets, gaining a deeper appreciation for poetry by either reading the verses or listening to the poets’ own recitations. Hearing the poets deliver their work brings the text to life, revealing the intended emotions, tones, and rhythms. Just as with the Flash Card widget , you can use the import feature to transform this Pair Matching activity into another widget type.

💡 Pro tip : In the General tab of the widget editor, be sure to select the option to show matched card pairs “using colors and symbols” so that students with perceptual impairments can recognize when they’ve made a match.

5. Do Now: Solve the Poetry Puzzle

You can have students reveal a poem and listen to its recitation by pairing an image of a poem with a recording as the reward audio in a Jigsaw Puzzle widget . Use this classroom poetry activity as a Bellringer or Do Now during a poetry unit or to connect poetry to other subject area content, then follow up with a whole class discussion or partner-talk on what the students think about the poem or how it connects to the days’ lesson. After you’ve introduced the poem, add it to a Whiteboard widget to create an annotation activity. I have plenty of examples in the next section!

💡 Pro tip : In the General tab of the widget editor, you can check the box to “show hint”. Students will then click the “?” icon in the top right corner to see a preview of the completed image.

6. Book Spine Poetry

Whether during a visit to the school’s library or utilizing your in-class collection of books, students can create a Book Spine Poem by stacking 5 books with different titles. Students can snap a picture of their Book Spine Poem and upload it to this Worksheet widget activity that includes a Photo question .

7. Color Poem - Yellow & Green

Teach poetry to younger students in such a way as to tap into students’ visual creativity in this Whiteboard widget poetry activity. Students use the drawing tools to decorate the poem accordingly. Duplicate the widget, swap out the poem, and change the color by accessing the Design features in the Preview (Student View) of the widget.

💡 Pro tip : You can save exemplary student submissions as PDFs and share them to your class’ LMS or print them for display in the classroom. When printing student work, check the option to have everything in one PDF for efficient printing of an entire class.

8. Brainstorm “Random” Rhyming Words

Use this Randomness widget activity to activate students’ brains when teaching poetry. They spin the wheels and think of 3 rhyming words–one for each word in the wheel. Open this widget on a smart board for a whole class activity or share this widget via a QR code to create an engaging poetry station activity that gets students up and moving about the room.

💡 Pro tip : Increase or decrease the difficulty level by adding or removing wheels. You can also create wheels with images for a visual challenge!

9. Artistic Interpretation

Make understanding poetry accessible by having students visually represent the text with this Split Whiteboard widget that includes a poem on one side and a drawing canvas on the other. Students can use the tools to draw or add images to represent the poem.

💡 Pro tip : Make this a multi-media experience by embedding a YouTube video of the poet reciting the poem and adding a background image to set the scene. Check out this example poetry activity featuring Amanda Gorman’s poem, The Hill We Climb. Click to open 💡 Pro tip : Add a graphic organizer as a background image so that students can visually represent their interpretation into a comic strip or storyboard. As in this example featuring Alexander Pope’s Sound and Sense. Click to open

10. Cross-Curricular Connections

Whether you are teaching poetry exclusively or want to infuse poetry exercises in other content areas, this Split Whiteboard widget example activity combines History, Geography, and poetry so that students learn about and trace Sybil Lundington’s ride which was as (& maybe even more!) daring as the famous ride of Paul Revere during the American Revolution.

11. French Connections

Poetry in the classroom can be infused into French language instruction in this Split Worksheet widget poetry exercise where students watch and listen to a video recitation of L’Accent then drag and drop the lines of the poem into the correct order.

💡 Pro tip : Looking for other interactive French lessons? Check out this blog post with 10+ Engaging and Ready-To-Use French Lesson Plans for Teachers and Students .

12. Bad Bard Jokes

Have fun with this Flash Card widget poetry activity that will surely make your students laugh or at least groan when they read each joke.

💡 Pro tip : You can add text, images, and audio to flashcards, as well as hints to help students study. Check out this blog post with 20 ways to use digital flashcards in your classroom .

This next group of classroom poetry activities covers a broad introduction of poetic forms and techniques, inviting learners to explore and experiment with different styles, from the rhythmic intricacies of traditional sonnets to the free-flowing expression of modern verse. These interactive poetry lessons emphasize the importance of narrative structure in poetry through storyboarding exercises, while also highlighting the art of rhyme and meter. A special focus is placed on the Imagist movement, encouraging students to convey complex emotions and ideas with precise imagery. I’ve included both analytical and creative digital poetry activities so that students can practice applying what they’ve learned when penning their own compositions.

13. Types of Poems Flashcards

Introduce students to various poetic structures via this Flash Card widget poetry activity. Students can practice memorizing the various types of poems.

💡 Pro tip : You can easily transform Flash Card widget into another widget-type using the import feature. Here I’ve imported the terms and descriptions to a Word Search and Crossword widget activities. Click to open Click to open

14. Poetic Terms Quiz

This classroom poetry exercise made with a Quiz widget can be used for summative or formative assessments to check students’ understanding of poetic terminology such as alliteration, consonance, hyperbole, enjambment, and allusion.

💡 Pro tip : You can also transform a Quiz widget into a Worksheet widget using the import feature. You can duplicate an entire widget or individual questions. The possibilities are endless for differentiated instruction! Check out this blog post for 40 Innovative Ways Teachers Can Digitally Differentiate Their Lessons with BookWidgets .

15. Check for Understanding and Storyboard Poems

With a Split Worksheet widget , you can provide a multimedia poetry experience for students by embedding videos, audio, or web pages in one panel and tasking students with answering questions in the other panel. Students can also showcase their creativity for understanding a poem by drafting a storyboard of the poem or practicing their annotation skills in a Whiteboard question .

💡 Pro tip : You can save exemplary student submissions of Whiteboard question as PDFs and share them to your class’ LMS or print them for display in the classroom. This is a great way to recognize their artistry and skill in annotation!

16. Check for Understanding and Language Connections

This Split Worksheet widget , also provides a multimedia poetry experience for students studying French. Students read information, watch a video, and listen to the audio recitation of the poem before answering the questions and drawing their own “face of happiness” in a culminating Whiteboard question .

17. Rhyme Scheme of Sonnet 130

In this quick Worksheet widget poetry exercise, students practice identifying the rhyme scheme of Sonnet 130 by Shakespeare using the mark sentence question type . This activity could be used as a Do-Now or Exit Ticket, and by having students click the button to reveal answers, they can receive feedback in real time.

💡 Pro tip : Duplicate this widget and swap out Sonnet 130 for another sonnet for students to practice annotating. After repeating this quick activity multiple times, students should be able to easily spot the rhyming pattern. And as an added bonus, you could compile the individual sonnet annotation activities by importing them into a quiz, since all of your questions are banked!

18. Imagist Exploration

In this Split Worksheet widget poetry activity for middle or high school classes, students explore the Imagist movement by examining three example poems. This activity can serve as a quick introduction to the Modernism and Imagist movements of poetry and the evolution of poetic expression and the breaking away from traditional forms. These movements, emphasizing clarity, precision, and economy of language, alongside innovative imagery and free verse, reflect the broader cultural shifts of the early 20th century. Understanding these movements enriches students’ appreciation of poetry’s diversity and its power to capture complex human experiences and emotions in a rapidly changing world.

💡 Pro tip : In addition to text, images, and videos, teachers can also embed web pages on one side of the Split Worksheet widget .

19. Composing with Images

Teachers can harness the power of imagery to inspire all students in their poetry writing–no matter the structure, whether it be a haiku, free verse, or sonnet–using the Random Images widget . By providing vivid, thought-provoking images, educators can stimulate students’ imaginations and encourage them to explore their thoughts and feelings through verse and poetic techniques learned in the other interactive poetry activities. This approach not only aids in the development of creative expression, but also enhances observational skills and emotional literacy, providing a rich foundation for students to craft their unique poetic voices.

💡 Pro tip : No need to scour the world wide web! Use the Pixabay integration to locate images for inspiration.

20. Composing Haikus with Images

Haikus may seem easy to write with their three lines of 5-7-5 syllables, but don’t be fooled by their conciseness. This traditional form of Japanese poetry demands precision and economy, challenging poets to convey depth, emotion, and often an observation of nature within a tight framework. The artistry lies in the subtle interplay of imagery and juxtaposition, inviting readers to uncover layers of meaning in just a few lines. Inspire students to compose haikus using this Random Images widget .

💡 Pro tip : Open this widget on a smart board for a whole class activity or share this widget via a QR code to create an engaging poetry station activity that gets students up and moving about the room.

21. Exploring Themes Through Verse

This quick, digital poetry research project, made with a Timeline widget , tasks students with selecting a topic that has consistently inspired poets and reflects universal human experiences and emotions. After students select their topic, they are tasked with finding poems from various cultures and historical time periods and compose a short paragraph for each, explaining how the poem addresses the topic as they add text and images to each box on the timeline. This activity can be used as part of the brainstorming phase for writing a more extensive poetry explication essay.

💡 Pro tip : Use this Checklist widget to provide a roadmap for students to follow in writing a poetry explication essay. Click to open

This last group of classroom poetry lessons blend engagement, fun, and skill mastery of advanced poetry techniques. Students do a deeper dive into poetry movements, poetic meter, and Shakespearean sonnets, practice advanced analysis via digital annotation activities, and are challenged to show what they have learned as they compose their own verses.

22. Exploring Poetry Movements Mindmap

This digital poetry exercise enhances listening, speaking, and research skills, suitable for various settings including whole class, groups, or pairs. When exploring influential poetry movements such as Romanticism and the Harlem Renaissance, students can use a digital Mind Map widget activity to systematically organize and present their research. In a lecture-based approach, students add notes from the teacher’s presentation on each movement to their mindmaps. Alternatively, in a collaborative setting, students are grouped to investigate specific movements, then the groups are reconfigured for sharing and compiling other findings into their individual mindmaps. For even more mindmapping activities, check out this blog post: 15 Powerful Mindmap Lesson Ideas for Teachers to Unlock Creative Teaching.

💡 Pro tip : You could assign a movement to groups using this Randomness spinner! After students are paired up or grouped, have them spin the wheel to reveal which poetry movement they will research. Click to open

23. Introduction to Poetic Meter

In this Split Worksheet widget poetry activity, students are introduced to poetic meter. They read the text on one side of the screen and answer the questions on the other. Understanding poetic meter sets the stage for composing and reciting their own spoken-word poetry.

💡 Pro tip : Students can resize the reading pane by dragging the center line to the left or right to make the text wider or more narrow as needed.

24. Annotation Practice

The Whiteboard widget is an ideal tool to use for poetry annotation practice. Simply capture a screenshot of the text of a poem and use it as a background image on the canvas. Students can use the tools to mark up the meter, rhyme scheme, poetic term examples, and more! Check out this example featuring Alexander Pope’s poem, Sound and Sense.

💡 Pro tip : In the General settings of the widget editor, select “Allow Download” enabling students to download their submission as PDF and/or PNG for offline and app-smashing access. After saving their annotations as a PNG, students can upload the PNG into a Word or Google doc when writing a poetry explication essay or they could add the images to other online creative tools they may be using in the classroom. Check out this blog post, The Student as Content Creator- 15 Content Creation Apps for in the Classroom , for ideas!

25. Blended Learning Annotation Practice

For a blended learning experience combining digital tools and paper, use a document camera to record yourself annotating a poem on a page then upload that recording to YouTube and embed the video in a Quiz , Worksheet , or Video Quiz widget. Here is an example I made using a Quiz widget for annotating the Prologue to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet . Students follow along with the video, pausing and rewinding as needed, to annotate their paper copy. How do I know they watched my video? Well, I include a Photo question for students to upload an image of their annotated paper and ask some additional auto-scored questions to check their understanding.

💡 Pro tip : Interested in creating your own explainer videos? These blog posts, The 5 Most Important Questions about Flipping the Classroom with Edtech , and How Your Video Lessons Can Be Even More Successful When You’re on Screen , provide plenty of tips and tricks for recording and incorporating video into your instructional practices.

26. Why Shakespeare Loved Iambic Pentameter

In this Video Quiz made with a video from TED-Ed , students answer the age-old question, “Why did Shakespeare write in iambic pentameter?” In addition to checking their understanding of the content in the video, this digital poetry lesson culminates with a whiteboard question where students use the drawing tools to practice annotating one of Shakespeare’s sonnets.

27. How to Write a Shakespearean Sonnet

In this Video Quiz , students can learn about the structure of Shakespeare’s sonnets and practice composing their own.

28. Finding Your Voice with Spoken Poetry

This Video Quiz features the artistry of Pages Matam , a National Poetry Slam champion originally from Cameroon, Central Africa. Matam’s Tedx Talk featured can inspire students to find their voice and communicate their passion, and serve as an introduction to Poetry Slams, a competition where poets compete in spoken word performances before a live audience and a panel of judges. Interested in more examples of Slam Poetry? Check out 25 Slam Poetry Examples to Inspire Students of All Ages by *We Are Teachers. *

💡 Pro tip : Incorporating Audio Response questions inside of Video Quizzes allows students to see and practice doing the techniques being modeled in the video. You can then do a live poetry slam or a digital one using tools like Microsoft’s Flip .

29. Composing “Random” Poems

Use this Randomness widget activity for a dizzying and quick fire poetry writing session. Students spin the wheel to reveal a poetic structure and topic for which they will compose a poem.

💡 Pro tip : For an analytical spin, you can ask ChatGPT to generate the poem and have students analyze the quality of the poetry generated by the artificial intelligence. Students could discuss the characteristics of the type of poem and discuss ways in which the poem could be improved. Here is ChatGPT’s DREAMS Acrostic annotation activity made with a Whiteboard widget . Click to open

30. Poetry in the Parks

Ecopoetry, a compelling branch of contemporary literature, intertwines the poetic voice with an acute awareness of the environment and our place within the natural world. This genre not only celebrates the beauty and majesty of nature, but also confronts the urgent ecological issues of our time, serving as a bridge between human emotion and the landscapes that sustain us. For an in-person ecopoetry experience, have students visit the National Parks in person and check out the poetry installations by Ada Limón , the nation’s 24th Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry, who in partnership with the Library of Congress and the Poetry Society of America will feature site-specific poetry installations in seven national parks .

But if unable to do a class field trip in person, this last poetry activity inspires students to virtually explore 20 of the 63 National Parks in the United States through an annotated Google Map widget . Students click on the map marker, read the information for each location, view the images, and even visit any linked resources. They can then choose a location as inspiration for a poem writing. Students can also explore each location via Street View with the Google Map widget .

💡 Pro tip : You can also use an Image Carousel widget to group images together for students to explore. Think of this as an image slideshow on steroids! Add text or image hotspots on multiple images that students can click, and map the images to an associated location on Google Maps. Here are three Image Carousel widget I made featuring sites in Acadia National Park, Yosemite National Park, and Yellowstone National Park. Click to open Click to open Click to open

This collection of 30+ free, online poetry lessons should serve as inspiration to make poetry engaging and accessible where every click can cultivate a couplet and every screen can spark a sonnet. I invite you to rhyme, revel, and resonate with your students, turning tech into the ultimate muse for tomorrow’s poets. Let every keystroke kindle creativity, as you continue on this journey where pixels paint poems and screens become the canvas for our collective poetic spirit!

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Poetry Activities: Six Simple Ways to Make Poetry Instruction Engaging

So you have to teach poetry, and it’s not your favorite. Or maybe you love it, but your students just don’t share that same passion. In either scenario, you’re in good company. For some reason, poetry is just one of those things that people tend to love or hate . There’s not much middle ground. Don’t worry. There’s hope! Fun poetry activities can bring units to life.

I used to dread poetry. Everything I can remember about poetry from high school was so boring. Over the years, I’ve learned to appreciate it…probably because as an English teacher, I’ve had to study it more intensely and find ways to make it applicable and relevant to students. I’m not that great at feigning interest, so I’ve had to get creative with my poetry instruction in order to find ways that I can truly be excited about teaching it.

Whether it’s National Poetry Month or just a part of your regular curriculum, hopefully these ideas will give you some inspiration and direction if you’re just not excited about the prospect of spending some of your precious classroom instruction on verse. These approaches have worked in my classroom in terms of engaging students with reading, analyzing, and writing about poetry and related skills.

Entice them with music.

No matter what grade I’m teaching, I always begin my poetry units with music for obvious reasons: students love it, music is poetry, it sets a positive atmosphere, it’s relevant. Any school-appropriate song can be studied as poetry.

I usually select a piece after determining my goal. For example, students can use poetry to analyze the author’s voice, to study grammar rules, to determine vocabulary from context clues, to read through a critical lens, or to study rhythm and rhyme.

Beginning by determining the learning goal naturally narrows down the music selection. Analyzing music as poetry can be a powerful and memorable learning experience. You can access my free analyzing poetry assignment here .

Write poems that are fun and nonthreatening.

When students who dislike poetry are asked to write a sonnet or a villanelle, they are often scared away before even putting their pencil to paper. It’s a lot to ask a student who feels they can’t relate to a genre to understand it well enough to write an example.

While standards do require that students read complex texts and write for a wide variety of purposes, they don’t specifically state that students must demonstrate the ability to write a complex poem. If your students happen to enjoy that type of assignment, you’re blessed! For the rest of us, why not make poetry less stress?

Incorporate choice…

We can offer choice assignments. In the past, after studying various types of poems, I’ve let my students choose what type of poem they want to write.

Fun and nontraditional poems can inspire students to produce original pieces beyond our imaginations. Concrete poems, creative nonfiction , nonsense poems, bio poems, six-room poems, blackout poetry, and acrostics are just a handful of examples that prove allowing a different style of creativity to creep into poetry instruction can revolutionize the entire unit.

Put students in charge…

If you’re not a non-traditional poem expert, don’t let that scare you away! Make it a research assignment where students study the type of poem they want to write, become the masters, and teach the class about those styles.

In reflecting about allowing choice as it relates to writing poems, I’m reminded of a time one of my students surprised me with his work during a multigenre research project . He wrote twenty limericks, and he connected all of them into one larger poem about the relationships between cats and dogs. That was impressive. Never in my wildest dreams would I have asked students to write twenty connected limericks, but because I had given students the freedom to express their imaginative side through their own means, I was truly rewarded with some amazing work.

Focus on reading comprehension.

Sometimes students just need to know that we aren’t going to ask them to read a poem, discuss it, write about it, complete a project on it, and then memorize it. It’s possible that once in a while, we kill a poem by coming at it from too many angles, and it’s overwhelming for students.

I’ve had success with making poetry less stressful when I only ask students to complete one task, like read it and comprehend it. The comprehension part might come through class discussion, through writing, or both. I like using simple comprehension journal topics when I ask students to respond to poetry because it helps them to process their thoughts before or after sharing with the class.

Use picture books.

Children’s picture books are gold mines for poetry, even at the secondary level. Many have elements of verse we can analyze, like rhyme scheme, sound devices, structure, and voice. Read a book to the entire class and discuss it, or pass out different books to small groups and have them analyze an aspect of the poetry.

I’ve used Skippyjon Jones to teach assonance and alliteration in the past, and students can’t get enough of it. Dr. Seuss books are another excellent resource. The Pout-Pout Fish is one of my favorites. An alternate way you can use picture books to teach poetry is to use a wordless book, like Flotsam, and have students write a stanza of poetry to accompany each page.

Use poetry to teach a writing skill .

Heading into a poetry unit, sometimes I’m thinking, How am I going to get through this unit so we have enough time to work on our research papers? It’s true that ELA teachers have a lot on their plates. Reading, writing, grammar, poetry, vocabulary… the list goes on. Teaching English works best for me when I blend the concepts taught in each unit.

When we study poetry, for instance, I might ask the students to focus specifically on analyzing the concept of diction . We can talk about how each of the words the poet selected carries power. Through figurative language, denotation, connotation, symbolism, imagery, and more, authors paint pictures with their words. When I transition into my writing unit, my students are already familiar with the importance of word choice as it relates to message and voice.

Play games.

I’m all about the games in my classroom. They allow students to practice skills in a way that fosters laughter and learning simultaneously. With poetry, the opportunities for games are numerous, especially if you focus specifically on types of poetry or figurative language.

My two favorite figurative language games are Truth or Dare and Get Schooled! My kids enjoy these activities, and (perhaps even more important) I get a stitch out of watching them review the terms, learning from one another as they discuss definitions and examples with a unique approach. This poetry challenge is fun to use with a variety of poems.

With a little bit of ingenuity, poetry units can be the highlight of your school year, even if it’s not your favorite part of teaching ELA. Hopefully these simple takeaways have inspired you to try something new with your next poetry unit. If you have successful poetry activities or lessons to share, we’d love to hear about them. Please drop your success stories in the comments. Let’s learn together!

13 Ways Pictures Inspire Students to Write Poetry

Writing nonfiction inspired poetry, paired text analysis: short films and poetry.

Some lovely ideas here for taking the fear out of poetry that students often feel. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you so much! Yes, so many students dislike poetry. I’ve had to get creative with my approaches. Using these techniques also makes teaching poetry more enjoyable and manageable for me (it’s not my favorite, either). 🙂

Some lovely ideas for taking the fear out of poetry that students often feel. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you for offering this. It’s encouraging.

You’re welcome, Ivory! I’m happy to share my ideas, and I hope they help you.

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Interactive Poetry Activities Your Students Will Love

Do you want to make poetry so fun and engaging that your students will ask for more? Here are some simple activities to get you started.

1. Blackout Poetry

There are so many reasons blackout poetry is great: kids love it, it's creative, and it forces you to clean the falling-apart books from your classroom library without the guilt of tossing them in the trash.

What is blackout poetry? It's simple. Rip out the pages of old books. Give the students some basic instructions, then watch the creativity flow!

Sample Instructions:

Blackout Poetry Examples:

2. Poet VS Poet

College basketball's March Madness is the perfect time to pit poet against poet for some exciting classroom debates, but any time of year teachers can create a similar feel by putting poets head to head and comparing their power.

Kids love competition. Creating competition with poetry naturally adds excitement and connects a sometimes intimidating genre with something familiar.

How do you implement a poet vs poet match up in your classroom? You could use an already created tool ( see Poet Vs Poet here ) or create your own match ups. For example, after a simple lesson on figurative language, ask your students to read the poetry of two different poets and rate their use of metaphors, similes, personification, and imagery. As a class, debate the poet's ratings using text based evidence.

If you are at all familiar with the basketball brackets of March Madness, poetry brackets work the same way (and you can find and download blank brackets by doing a simple Google search). I like to start with a sweet sixteen of poets, then narrow down to an elite eight, a final four, a championship, and a winner. Poets advance by having classes vote on the better poet in each match up. The reward of listening to kids debate poet's skills like the poets are athletes is worth any time it takes setting up this activity.

3. Found Poems

Found poems give language to students who may struggle to find the right words. Found poetry is easily accessible, hands on, and fun. Easy to set up, all you need to do to implement found poetry in your classroom is gather together stacks of old magazines, scissors, glue, and colorful paper.

First, instruct students to find powerful words in the pages of magazines, cut them out, and make piles on their desk. You could also assign cutting out powerful words from old magazines for homework and save yourself the time and mess in your classroom.

Next, students arrange and rearrange the words on their desk into meaningful poetry. This is a great opportunity to reinforce the power of form, shape, and line breaks in poetry and encourage students to be thoughtful in their choices. Talk to your students about choosing the best words, eliminating unnecessary words, and playing around with word choice.

Finally, instruct students to glue their poem into place on a colorful piece of paper and decorate your room with the beauty and power of poetry.

4. Poetry Escape Room

Students have to identify the metaphor to find the next clue in this escape room.

A poetry escape room is the most engaging and fun way to introduce or review poetry with your students. Escape rooms by nature are hands on and engaging. Combine the fun of an escape room with poetry and your kids will be hooked. (Check out the poetry escape room I did with my students here.)

Escape rooms, or breakout rooms, are a new trend similar to scavenger hunts. In a poetry escape room, students put together clues based on poems, poets, figurative language, poetry form, rhyme scheme, or any other poetic element. Then, students work to unlock the clues using their poetry knowledge.

Poets are experts at hiding meaning within the lines of their poetry, so use that to create clues that ask students to interpret, make inferences, and analyze. Escape rooms are a great method of turning tasks that can be intimidating to kids and making them into interactive challenges that students are motivated to engage in.

To create a poetry escape room, first choose the poetic elements or reading skills you want to target, a specific poem you want students to read and reread several times in different ways, or a theme or poet to design your escape room around.

Next, gather the materials and tasks that you would normally share with students in a traditional format, but think of creative ways to turn the tasks into clues. For example, if you want students to identify the figurative language in a poem, create task cards that students have to place in the order that those poetic elements appear in the poem. Hide small letters on the task cards so when students place the cards in order, the next clue appears. See the example below:

Students have to place the figurative language task cards in the order that the language appears in the poem "A Boy and His Dad."

Get creative and hide clues within poems with bold words, put clues on task cards that students have to place in a certain order based on analysis, or choose clues based on symbolism or inferences that students can find only when they do a close read of the poem.

Although escape rooms require a lot of preparation and thought, the end result is worth the time. Students will be more engaged, thoughtful, and active in reading poetry than you could ever imagine. Escape rooms are a great way to review poetic elements or kick off a new study of poetry when you really want to catch students' attention and get them motivated.

Check out my step by step guide to creating your own escape room here .

The Case of the Missing Poets: Escape Room

5. Poetry Mash Up

Create a poetry mash up by writing poetry forms on slips of paper and placing them in one jar, types of figurative language and placing them in a second jar, and sound elements and placing them in a third jar. Pass the jars around the classroom and have students choose from each one, writing a poem based on what they chose.

For example, a student might choose haiku (poetry form), imagery (figurative language), and onomatopoeia (sound element). That student would then be challenged to write a haiku with imagery and an onomatopoeia. There are endless combinations and kids will have a blast writing, sharing, and seeing what poems are created in your poetry mash up.

Play over and over and model your poetry writing with students as well. Have fun laughing at the ridiculous and enjoy the surprise when students create some really amazing pieces with different combinations of poetic elements.

Making poetry fun and hands on is not only possible, but with a little creativity, it's really easy to implement at any level. Help your students to find the joy in creating magic with only a few words in different shapes and forms. Take the intimidation factor out of poetry by connecting poetry to fun challenges, familiar activities, and hand on learning.

Poetry Lesson Ideas

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4 Engaging Ways to Write With High School Poets

How do you structure your poetry writing workshop activities and exercises for high school students in your poetry club or creative writing classroom?

I use four different approaches to planning poetry writing activities with high school students. As a club sponsor/youth spoken word coach, I don’t have much leverage or time with my students. I have to appeal to their passion for poetry. We do some light analysis of poems, but I focus on what appeals to them (or not) about a poem. We talk about how to read the model poems as a writer. In other words, I ask them, “What can you steal from this poem to use in your own writing?”

The approaches I use could be summed up as follows:

Lists or word banks related to their experience
Apprenticeship with a poem by close reading
Constraints put in place to break poets out of patterns
Skill-building that focuses on specific writing skills

I wrote two books that have examples of all of these types of approaches. Look in the resources section of this site for my books and other useful ones, as well as some helpful web resources.

I live and work outside of Chicago. My first exposure to youth spoken word poetry and poetry slams was through Young Chicago Authors (YCA). In their writing workshops, YCA employs a specific theme, e.g. “important people in our lives” or “our names.” These themes show up in one or two example poems. First, workshop leaders lead a discussion about the poems. Then students generate several lists based on the poems. For a workshop about names, examples might include “nicknames you were given” or “times someone mispronounced your name.” Finally, the workshop leader gives a writing prompt: “write a poem that talks about your relationship with your name.” YCA’s website has some model workshops in the Stay Making section of their website.

Poem Apprenticeship

I admire the work of Get Lit , a Los Angeles-based Youth Spoken Word writing organization, similar to YCA. Get Lit uses a more academic approach. Students start by choosing a poem they want to apprentice themselves to, aka a “classic poem.” In other words, they select a poem from Get Lit’s Anthology that they are willing to spend a lot of time with. Next, they do a close reading of the poem, reading it as a writer. What poetic elements does the poet use? How do these elements affect the meaning of the poem? Because they are also learning performance, students then memorize and perform their chosen poem. Finally, students create a “response poem” of their own.

The poet might respond to (1) a specific line or word in the classic poem (2) the topic of the poem itself (3) or a stanza, feeling, or idea. In essence, their poem is in conversation with the classic poem. During Get Lit’s Classic Slam , the poets perform both the original classic poem as well as their response poem. For a book-length resource, pick up a copy of Get Lit: Words Ignite. Look in the resources section of this site for a link to the book and other information.

Constraint Exercises

Constrained writing is a common and very old technique. Generally, beginning writers stick to the same writing moves in their poems. Complicate the prompt with rules or requirements and break your poets out of those patterns. Write sonnets or require a poem to include a list of provided words. There are tons of different poetry writing exercises you can use by themselves or in combination with others.

Here is an example prompt for a love poem:

As a whole group, brainstorm a list of words that have to do with love (mainly nouns & verbs).
Then pick a specific subject for your love poem. It can be romantic or platonic.
Now write a ten – fourteen line love poem.
But the catch is that you can not use any of the words from the brainstorming list in your poem.

Skill-building Exercises

After a few years of planning high school poetry writing workshops, I found that just providing example poems and prompts wasn’t enough. My young poets needed to build their basic poetry writing skills through skill-building exercises. The difference with this method is that there is no poem as a product expected at the end. Instead, the focus is on learning and trying out a skill.

Some examples include: developing original metaphors & similies, dealing with line breaks, revising your poem & offering feedback, using rhyme effectively, etc.

How do you structure your poetry writing workshops for high school students in your poetry club or creative writing classes? Please share ideas in the comments.

How To Implement Poetry Activities In The Classroom: Ideas, Examples, And Resources

December 8, 2023 // by Sean Kivi

Do your kids groan when they hear the word ‘poetry’? It’s no secret that this genre can be challenging, but do not fear! Our ideas will help you make poetry more accessible so that your learners might even start liking it!

This compilation will help your students deepen their understanding of poetry and support them as they apply this knowledge to their writing. So get ready to transform their relationship to poetry with our list of 51 fun poetry activities for kids!

1. Rhyming Dominoes

Turn the classic game of dominoes into a fun poetry activity! Your kids will have a blast matching words with the same rhyme scheme. Think about extending their learning even more by having them use these words to write their own poems!

Learn More: No Time For Flash Cards

2. Doggie Haiku

Haikus are a notably difficult type of poetry, but your students will simply adore making their own creative poems using the book “Dogku”. Why not have a poetry slam to see which of your amazing poets wrote the best one?

Learn More: Teaching Fourth

3. Haikubes

This is another great game to instill a little fun into one of the more challenging types of poetry. Just roll the dice and be amazed at the haikus your students start to create! To save money, write words on pieces of paper and have your students pick them out of a hat!

Learn More: Amazon

4. Blackout Poetry

This one is fantastic for getting even your most reluctant learners to participate in poetry! Distribute old texts to your kiddos and let them choose one that catches their eye. Your kids will love scanning the text and then circling, highlighting, or blacking out words to create their own unique poetry!

Learn More: Just Add Students

5. Push Pin Poetry

This activity will make a great display board for your classroom while also providing an excellent stimulus for your kiddies to craft some pretty cool poems. They’ll choose to create poems on their own poetry or have some extra fun by adding to the creations of their classmates!

Learn More: Residence Life Crafts

6. Songs to Poem

If your class loves music then this one’s for you! Using the lyrics of a modern pop song, you can teach your students how to explore meaningful poetry and engage them in discussions about figurative language. So start getting your kiddos rockin’ to poetry!

Learn More: Teachers Pay Teachers

7. Book Spine Poetry

Your avid readers will enjoy this fun poetry activity! Have your students create unique poems by using the titles of books. You can keep things simple by having them choose titles from one genre, or mix it up by challenging them to combine fiction and nonfiction titles!

8. Pop Sonnets

This is a great way to engage even your most reluctant students in analyzing poems. Hook them on poetry by showing and discussing these amazing examples of modern-day songs that have been turned into an interesting type of poem – Shakespearean sonnets!

Learn More: Pop Sonnet

9. Figurative Language Truth or Dare

Your students’ curiosity is sure to be piqued when you introduce this truth-or-dare poetry game! They can learn all about techniques like figurative language that can be used to spice up poetry. This game is great for a whole class review and will surely be loads of fun!

10. Literary Term Practice Game

This is another game perfect for a whole class review! Your kids can play in groups to make their way around the game board as they explore literary terms and figurative language. They’ll be having so much fun with this one, that they won’t even notice you’re using it to check their comprehension skills of key literary techniques!

11. Invisible Ink Poetry

Secret poems? Decoding messages? Your kids will surely be engaged with this fun poetry activity. All it takes is lemon juice, a paintbrush, and some paper, and your students will be all set to create secret poems that they can then pass to a classmate to decode! Then, just apply heat and the mystery verses will be revealed!

Learn More: Poetry 4 Kids

12. Poetry Inspiration Scrapbook

At one point, every writer suffers from writer’s block and your kids are no exception. This scrapbook activity is a great way to combat this challenge and will help your kids create some excellent picture-inspired poetry! Just give them some old magazines, scissors, glue, and a blank canvas to get them started!

13. Clip It Rhyming Center

It’s never too early to instill an appreciation for poetry and your younger students will love learning about rhyming with this fun activity! You can use this poetry unit with simple words and syllables or try expanding this with multisyllabic words for a bit more of a challenge.

Learn More: Education To The Core

14. Tone Tunes

Get your poetry rockin’ with this music-themed activity! Your older students will begin to understand the pretty challenging concept of writer’s tone by connecting music to poetry. They’ll use the free printable to come up with ideas around a given tone, then explore how this applies to pieces of music!

Learn More: Teach Writing

15. Concrete Poems and Shape Poems

Your artists and poets alike will love creating concrete and shape poems in this activity. This one will take a little guidance to make sure your students don’t spend too much time drawing their shapes, as the focus should be on creating concrete poetry!

Learn More: The Room Mom

16. Acrostic Poems

This is a perfect introductory activity to get your kids excited about poetry! You can use this for teaching word associations across a variety of topics and content areas. If you think your kiddos are ready, try adding in some grammar rules to make this one a little more challenging!

Learn More: My Poetic Side

17. Character Cinquains

Sometimes those complex poetry structures can be a bit tricky to teach! This activity breaks down cinquains into an easy-to-use teaching template. Use this worksheet to show your budding poets how to create their very own cinquain poem!

Learn More: Worksheet Place

18. Texting Couplets

Your older students will love an activity that actually asks them to text! This is a rather unique take on poetry and will really get your kids engaged in thinking about how to craft a text couplet. Just make sure they’re focusing on texting poetry in class!

19. Rhyming Worksheets

These foundational and ready-to-use worksheets are great reinforcers for teaching rhyming. You can use these in your instruction as a warm-up activity, an introduction to poetry, or to help your littlest poets start to understand rhyming words.

Learn More: Kids Connect

20. Online Magnetic Poetry

Struggling for words? Use this digital tool to introduce poetry and show your students some poetry techniques. This one makes it easy on your poets as the words are already provided – they just move them over to create what will surely be some fun and interesting poems!

Learn More: Magnetic Poetry

21. Found Poetry

This is similar to the scrapbook activity previously mentioned, but this one only requires construction paper! It’s a great way for you to save money and resources by reusing old books and magazines, and your students will love cutting and gluing to create their poems!

Learn More: There’s Just One Mommy

22. Paint Chip Poetry Game

Another excellent game to provide your kids with different stimuli for writing poems is Paint Chip Poetry! These paint chips have writing prompts included on them, but you can also make your own paint chip poetry with some old paint samples lying around. Your visual learners will love this one!

23. Reading Progressive Dinner Stations

Add a little spark into your classroom community by using the theme of a progressive dinner party to teach literary analysis This engaging and in-depth activity is great for teaching about all genres – including poetry – and is certain to generate some interesting ‘dinner table’ discussion!

24. Favorite Poem Project

Instead of having your kids write poetry, why not ask them to interview people about their favorite poems? This project is a great endeavor that will expose them to a wide range of poetry styles. Have them gather the information and then come together to share their findings with the class!

Learn More: Favorite Poem Project

25. Metaphor Dice

Struggling to think of literary techniques to use in poems? Your kids will get ideas to create metaphors by rolling these cool dice. They’ll use a verb or two to combine the inspiring words into stellar metaphors. This is the perfect activity for partners or small groups!

26. Haiku Tunnel Books

Turn words into a three-dimensional poetry project with these awesome books! This technique is actually from the mid-18th century, but your modern-day students are guaranteed to love creating this foldable. You’ll guide your students to make an accordion-style poetry book that is sure to be a hit!

Learn More: Teach Kids Art

27. Poetry Bingo

Yet another fun group poetry game! This is the classic game of bingo with a twist that will have your students checking their comprehension of each technique. Make sure you remember to have a few prizes on hand for the winners!

Learn More: Jennifer Findley

28. Roll & Answer Poetry

This fantastic resource can be implemented in a variety of ways to suit your teaching style. You can choose to have your kiddos work independently or partner them up for a little collaboration! The questions will also help you keep an eye on their understanding of different types of poetry.

29. Silly Limericks

Who doesn’t love a limerick? This worksheet will soon become a favorite poetry game for your kids as they create their own funny poems by filling in the blanks. This is the perfect way to make what can be a pretty complex poetry structure a little more accessible for your students!

Learn More: Steamsational

30. Nursery Rhyme Craft

Your littlest learners will love making nursery rhymes come to life with this fun activity! This is a great way to introduce poetry to your younger learners by having them make a craft from simple materials, that reflects a common nursery rhyme. They’ll be inspired to write poetry of their own in no time!

Learn More: All Kids Network

31. Poetry Speed-Dating

This is a low-risk way to get your learners excited about poetry! Display a variety of poetry anthologies around your classroom and set your students free to browse! Your kids will love being able to casually sift through these books to find a few poems that appeal to them!

Learn More: Teach Nouvelle

32. Nursery Rhyme Wall

This one is perfect for your little ones who might need some movement or a hands-on learning experience. They won’t be able to resist building a wall out of their favorite rhymes or nursery rhymes. This one is also great for supporting the development of their motor skills!

Learn More: Toddler Approved

33. Collaborative Poetry

Get your kids together to write their poetic masterpieces! They’ll love this easier approach to creating a poem, where they’ll take turns working with a partner to write a line of a poem. This is a great way to instill a love of poetry and a little collaborative spirit into your classroom!

Learn More: The Literary Maven

34. Color Poems

Color poems are great for exploring creative writing through an analysis of different colors! During this process, you will encourage your students to brainstorm words, actions, and objects that they associate with each color, resulting in some pretty unexpected and unique poems!

Learn More: Teach Living Poets

35. Poetic Journaling

This poetic journaling activity creates a safe space for your students to let their creative juices flow so they can delve deeper into their thoughts and experiences! Start by giving your kiddos a specific category prompt like a season, type of poem, or emotion, and then set them free to write!

36. Ephemeral Poetry

Fast, the speedboat / splashes its way / along the restless / waves while escaping.

This activity is great for engaging your kiddos who avoid writing at all costs. Ephemeral poetry uses a surface that will eventually disappear which can often be a little less daunting for these kids. Have them write on a chalkboard or a dewy or snow-covered window; all they’ll need is a finger and a little imagination!

Learn More: Michael Dickel

37. Soundscapes

The Soundscape Poetry Project - Culture Recordings

This is the perfect idea for your kids who enjoy listening to or mixing music. Soundscapes use background music and other sounds to create poetry inspired by the noises we hear in our everyday lives. You will be amazed at the auditory inspirations that ignite your students’ musical poems!

Learn More: Soundscapes

38. Photo Poetry

Your students who need some visual support will enjoy this activity. You can have them create a poem in response to a beautiful or thought-provoking photograph to share with the class. They’ll learn to appreciate poetry while also gaining perspective by understanding that not everyone sees things the same way!

Learn More: Little Infinite

39. Alphabet Poem

This one is perfect for all ages. Have your kiddies make a poem using words that start with each letter of the alphabet, or for older students, have them write a line of their poem with each letter. You can’t go wrong with the variations – just be prepared for some unusual results!

Learn More: Writer’s Digest

40. Ode to an Object

Ode to a Mandala--an Etheree • Laura Purdie Salas

This activity is great for teaching poetry and for getting to know your students! They’ll love the different options involved in this activity as they choose from three types of odes to write a lyric poem praising an object, person, or event that they cherish.

Learn More: Thought Co

41. Memory Poem

The secret to creating a good memory poem is to teach your kids to be specific about a past event. Taking a walk down memory lane will engage them in the details of their lives and is great for helping them express the impact of both positive and challenging events.

Learn More: Power Poetry

42. Mirror Poem

Are your poets ready for a challenge? This activity focuses on the structure of a palindrome where the writing of two poems reflects one another. The poem doesn’t have to be an exact mirror, making this a great activity for you to use to teach your kiddos about word order and the power of punctuation!

Learn More: Medium

43. Travel Poems

Encourage your kiddies to think about their own travels to inspire their next poems! The best part is that your kids can write about their experiences of places they’ve been, but they can also use their imagination to create poems about destinations they aspire to visit!

Learn More: Laure Wanders

44. Dreamscape Poem

Your students are probably already talking about the crazy dream they had last night, so why not add this to your poetry instruction? Dreamscape poems open up the door for your kids to tap into their imaginative powers and bring their dreams to life by crafting poems about their dreams! Anything goes in dreams, so let them use this as an excuse to go wild!

Learn More: Three Teachers Talk

45. List Poem

Parents, teachers, and students are inundated on a daily basis with all sorts of lists. Whether it’s a grocery list, a chore list, or what seems to be a never-ending “to-do” list; your learners will love this spin that makes the everyday list a little less boring and a lot more poetic!

Learn More: Education

46. Vocabulary Challenge

12 Poems for Teaching Vocabulary in High School ELA / Moore English

This activity offers an in-depth look at vocabulary words in twelve curated poems. Your kiddos will dive deep to understand how context clues can help them determine the meaning of the words. Whether you are introducing new terms or want your them to build their vocabulary organically, this activity is a winner!

Learn More: Moore English

47. Reverse Poetry

reverse poem lost generation jonathan reed

Your kids will love deciphering the meanings found in this type of poetry! When read from top to bottom, this poem means one thing, but when read from bottom to top, the meaning changes. Analyze a couple together and then for a challenge, have your students give their own a try!

Learn More: Hey Natayle

48. Emotion Poems

Are your kids in need of a little social-emotional learning? Emotion poems are a great way for them to harness and explore things that can sometimes feel pretty overwhelming. Whether they focus on one or more emotions, this is a sure way for them to express themselves!

Learn More: Poetry Boost

49. Rap Poetry

What kid doesn’t love music? There are plenty of different genres out there, but rap is especially suited for connecting your kids’ interests to poetry. They’ll love analyzing the beats, rhythm, and rhyme of these examples, and then be sure to let them choose their favorite school-appropriate rap song to analyze!

Learn More: TPT

50. Recipe Poetry

Your students’ ears and eyes are sure to perk up with the mention of food! Now, combine that curiosity with poetry and you now have a recipe for a great writing lesson! In this activity, your kids will create a poem that reads like a recipe, using ingredients as metaphors. Bon appetit!

Learn More: Teachers And Writers Magazine

51. Contrast Poems

Teaching Compare and Contrast | Literacy Ideas

This in-depth activity will get your kiddos thinking critically about poetry while also giving them an opportunity to practice close reading and annotation. Give them practice comparing and contrasting poetry and watch as their interest in this genre starts to unfold!

Learn More: Teacher Vision

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9 totally unique poetry activities for high school students

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Studying poetry with high schoolers can be really fun. There are so many different forms of poetry — yes, including pop songs! — and writing poems is an incredible creative outlet for teenagers.

Here’s a rundown of fun poetry games and activities, which can work for standalone high school lessons or as warm-ups to a writing assignment.

Pop Sonnets

If you’re teaching a unit on Shakespeare, this activity will be an absolute hit with your students.

Assign them a sonnet written by the Bard, and ask them to transform it into a modern pop song. It’ll get them thinking hard about the language and writing style he uses. Once they’re comfortable with it, they could even Shakespear-ize their favorite pop hits.

There’s a blog with loads of examples if you want to go through the process with your students. Remember, much of Shakespeare’s work is written in iambic pentameter — perhaps use these worksheets to introduce your students to this concept, before moving onto the pop sonnets.

Poetry journal

Freewriting is a fantastic way to free up headspace and get the creative juices flowing. Give high schoolers a small notebook to serve as their poetry journal — a book that’s only for them, which you will never look at.

Without fear of criticism or judgment, they’ll be much more likely to find their voice. You can give them poetry journal prompts and let their imagination run wild. Allocate a 15-minute ‘free writing’ block before or after your lesson, and see how they develop!

Slam poetry

Sometimes kids might see poetry as lame or outdated, so it’s up to you to show them all the exciting modern forms that poetry can take.

Slam poetry might be one of the best for self-expression: there are no rules or formats for slam poets to follow. It has an element of performance and theatrics and is a way to share a personal story they might otherwise be uncomfortable talking about.

Watch some slam performances on YouTube, then ask students to write their own. Some of the best examples use language techniques like alliteration, rhyme, repetition, anaphora, or similes to help give the story depth. Check out our library of worksheets on various literary devices if you or your students need a refresher.

Blackout poetry

This activity is a classic and a great way to get creativity flowing before a class.

Give your students photocopied pages of a book or textbook, and ask them to find a poem within the words already printed on the page. They blackout the rest of the words with markers, leaving only their “poem” visible. Get students to first read the page, making note of any words that stand out or speak to a theme they’re interested in. Then they can start blacking out words.

And, FYI, the New York Times has an online blackout poetry tool if you can’t access old books or a photocopier.

Analyzing songs

Literary analysis can be much more enjoyable if the student actually likes the text to begin with. So don’t forget that most modern songs are a form of poetry.

Songs by artists like Adele, Taylor Swift, and Eminem (he has a few clean, age-appropriate songs!) are full of metaphors and clever writing. Ask them to read through the lyrics and identify language techniques and poetic devices. It’s a great way for students to see these techniques in practice, before writing their own. This figurative language worksheet bundle has an extensive list of literary devices to keep an eye out for.

Texting couplets

Once again, this activity takes something teenagers are comfortable with and turns it into a poetry medium. Instead of taking out their notebooks, ask students to get into pairs and use their phones to make a poem together. (If you’re homeschooling, you can do it one-on-one with your student.)

Ask them to send poetic couplets back and forth, and to make it sound like a conversation. Before they start, choose a specific technique you’d like them to highlight in their work — a theme, a grammar concept like alliteration, or Shakespearean metaphors.

Picture-inspired poetry

Some days, it might be hard for students to get motivated or inspired. But creative springboards are a good way to get around writers’ block.

Gather a collection of pictures — from magazines, old photo archives, or famous paintings — and ask them to select one and write a poem about it. Take it a step further and find a kids’ picture book. Cover up the words and photocopy the pages, then ask your students to write a long poem or multiple couplets to tell the story they see in front of them.

Warm-up games

Some rhyming games may feel a little childish for high school students, but it’s a good way to get their minds sharp and switched-on before a lesson. We’ve got rhyming worksheets for younger students , with games you can adapt to a high school class. Sit in a circle and choose a word — everyone must take turns coming up with a rhyme but if they repeat a word or take too long, the game is over. It’s just a fun little way to start off the class.

Micro-poems

Your students probably know that tweets are limited to 240 characters — which is not a lot! But why not impose this limit on their poems, and get them to create some micro-poetry.

They’ll have to get really creative with their language in order to convey the right tone in less than 240 characters. They can check out the hashtags #micropoetry and #poetweet for inspiration.

Remember that poetry isn’t something that comes easy to everyone. You may encounter some stumbling blocks when teaching it to high school students, but hopefully these poetry activities will make it seem less like a chore and more like a fun way to express themselves.

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30 Fun Poetry Games & Activities for the Classroom

Transform your poetry lessons with these fun poetry games for the classroom ! They're a fantastic way to invite your students to write their own poems or find their new favourite poems!

Poetry exposes kids to rich vocabulary and teaches them to become critical and creative thinkers about language. As well as enriching student vocabulary and teaching students how to paint a picture with their words, it can also boost comprehension, expression and fluency skills, rhyme, rhythm, phonological and grammar skills.

It also is a great way to support struggling readers, as it is easier (and less overwhelming) for them to deal with small chunks of text at a time.

Whether you're trying to celebrate National Poetry Month or want to incorporate fun poetry activities throughout the year, these activities and games are a fun way to foster a love for figurative language and creative writing!

Poetry exposes kids to rich vocabulary, and teaches them to become critical and creative thinkers about language. As well as enriching student vocabulary and teaching students how to paint a picture with their words, it can also boost comprehension, expression and fluency skills, rhyme, rhythm, phonological and grammar skills.

It also is a great way to support struggling readers, as it is easier (and less overwhelming) for them to deal with small chunks of text as a time.

Why you'll love these poetry games for the classroom

The great thing about poetry is how quickly it can grab even the most reluctant students! The metaphoric language is so evocative and can draw students out of their shells.

Plus, many students are naturally drawn to poetry in the form of songs or music. Once they recognise how much poetry exists in their lives, they begin to write and appreciate poems in new ways.

There are so many different types of poetry and ways to teach poetry that you'll want to incorporate this type of literature every day!

How to Teach Poetry in the Classroom

So how do I use poetry to focus on and boost all of these skills?

You'll find 30 fun poetry games & activities later on in this blog post, but first - here's how I love to incorporate a daily poetry focus into our classroom weekly routine. This blog post outlines the full process that would be followed in an ideal world.

But, we are busy, and it can be hard to envisage fitting all of this into an already crammed curriculum- so you can pick and choose the parts that work best for you within each week. Some days will just be a mini lesson focus or quick lesson break, other days will be a more extended lesson.

As you will see, I like to focus on far more than just poetry- we also build our comprehension, vocabulary, reading, grammar, and creative thinking skills.

Selecting Focus Poem

I select one focus poem for the week. These later become our ‘warm up’ poems at the start of our poetry sessions. I choose poems not because they link to a particular Key Learning Area or theme, but because children will be engaged by them and enjoy them- some will make them laugh, others will make them think.

Across the week, a daily poetry focus session can look like this:

SESSION 1: COMPREHENSION FOCUS

SESSION 2: WOW WORDS/VOCABULARY FOCUS

SESSION 3: FLUENCY/EXPRESSION FOCUS

Session 4: word work, session 5: respond.

We start with a warm up (3-4 minutes)- these are poems from previous weeks which we quickly recite together.
Teacher reads the Focus Poem (I may read it through more than once)
Comprehension questions from teacher- a mix of literal (‘the answer is right there’) questions, background knowledge, think and search, reading between the lines, compare/contrast, making connections, and asking for student opinions.
Comprehension questions from students. Some ways that I may do this include: providing students with question stems to ask the class, Think/Pair/Share, interviewing a character, or basketball discussions where the students bounce ideas off one another.
If time allows, we read the poem together, or I read it to them one more time.
Read for enjoyment- I read them any other poem purely for them to enjoy.

SESSION 2: VOCABULARY FOCUS

I read our Focus Poem to the class. Then we read it all together.
Vocabulary Focus: we unpack any unknown words, look them up, discuss when we could use them in our writing, and practice using them in sentences (either verbally or on mini whiteboards). We create a mind map of words that we collect throughout our poetry sessions, which I then encourage students to use in their writing.
If time allows, we read the poem together again.

We read our Focus Poem together (once or twice)
Fluency/Expression focus: we work on expression, fluency, phrasing, pace, intonation etc. I particularly model to the students how they can use their voices to reflect the words that they are reading. E.g. in one of our favourite poems “The Super Tilting Hurlacoaster”, we use our voices to demonstrate words and phrases like ‘nose-dive’, ‘threw me to and fro’, ‘queasy’ or ‘loop the loop’.
Read for enjoyment- I read my students any other poem purely for them to enjoy.

We read our Focus Poem together (once or twice) and ensure that we use the fluency/expression that we worked on yesterday.
Word/Letter Work focus: using words from the poem as inspiration, we do some letter/sound work based around particular focus/es. These could be rhyme, contractions, strong verbs, adjectives, adverbs, similes, personification, or whatever focus you like!
If time allows, we read the poem once more together. By this stage, students will probably know the poem off by heart, and will be reciting it with a lot of fluency and expression.

This session can often take a little longer.

Respond: Students respond in a creative way to the poem. I often just use drawings, but their responses could be anything creative, depending on how much time you have to dedicate to it! Some examples could be making a tune/rap, acting it out, making a poster, writing a review, continuing the poem, writing a story, painting etc.
If time allows, we read the poem once more together. Students will most likely know the poem off by heart by this stage.
Read for enjoyment- I read them any other poem purely for them to enjoy.

WHERE TO FIND POEMS?

There are lots of wonderful, vocabulary-rich poems out there! One website that I recommend is https://fizzyfunnyfuzzy.com/poems . I've included some more free alternatives at the end of this blog post!

WHAT TO PRIORITISE IF YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL

At the very least, I try to ensure we read through our focus poem a couple of times a day, add new wow words to our vocabulary display, and spend some time on comprehension questions/fluency and expression. If I have time, I also schedule some time for responding to the poem, grammar work in relation to our focus poem, reading poems for enjoyment, and re-reading past poems together!

Ready to add poetry to your weekly lesson plans? Get my free poetry slides to help your students stretch and extend their understanding of each new poem.

30 Fun Poetry Games for the Classroom

These fun poetry activities would be wonderful for the Respond section of the poetry lesson plans above. They invite your students to take what they've learned from the poem each week to transform it into something new!

1. Make a tune or a rap

The most popular type of poetry these days comes in the form of a song or rap. Invite your students to write their own song and perform it!

2. Write another part of the poem

Imagine the poem hadn't ended. How could they add to it to take the poem in a different direction? Or could they write the poem from someone else's perspective?

3. Draw a picture

Since poems are so evocative, you could either have your students draw what they think is happening in the poem or invite them to draw how the poem makes them feel. This is a great activity for identifying mood!

4. Make a poster

Whether they want to advertise the poster or represent it visually, a poster can be a great way to encourage your students to spend extra time with a poem.

5. Write a review

Students are pretty used to rating things days with social media! How would they rate this poem? How many stars? What did they like? What did they not like?

6. Write a letter to the poet

What would your students want to ask or tell the poet? Have them write a letter to reveal their thoughts and questions.

7. Assign blackout poetry

In this poetry activity, you'll give your students a sheet of text, like a piece of newspaper or a full article from a magazine. Have them blackout any words they don't want and leave only the ones they do not want to create their own blackout poem. These look super cool and are one of my favourite poetry activities!

8. Host a poetry slam

Once your students have all composed their own poems, host a poetry slam for them to share their creations. Invite the school administrators or other important people to be the judges. This one is so much fun and is especially great for older kids or even high school students.

9. Have a poetry walk

Take your students for a nature walk, then invite them to write a poem about something they observed or noticed. It can be helpful to start by sharing other observational poems about nature first.

10. Make found poetry

Found poetry is made by combining lines or phrases from other texts. Think of it as a poetry collage. This activity is a little more manageable for older elementary students or middle schoolers.

11. Incorporate spoken word poetry

The beautiful thing about spoken word poetry is how playful you can be with the different sounds in poems. These allow the poet to express themselves in unique and compelling ways. For emphasis, your students can practice alliteration, onomatopoeia, code-switching, and various other literary and linguistic practices to express themselves in a unique way.

12. Write an I Am From Poem

Especially for younger students, this is a great way to help them play with sensory language for the first time. Inspired by George Ella Lyon's poem that sparked a movement, "I am from" poems can easily be scaffolded by incorporating sentence stems.

You can even assign students a link to this I am Poem generator for distance learning!

13. Draw out concrete poetry

Concrete poems, including shape poems, are written with consideration for the visual representation of the poem. This could look like writing a poem about the sun in the shape of a sun, etc. These are a lot of fun and can get really interesting and beautiful!

14. Write acrostic poems

Acrostic poems are a great opportunity for younger children who might not be ready for the full process of writing poetry. Choose a word to inspire their poetry, write it vertically, then have them write a word or phrase that starts with each letter of the initial word.

For example, they could write the word "winter" vertically, then create phrases starting with each individual letter in the word to share something about the season.

15. Join the Favourite Poem Project

Join the Favorite Poem Project and invite your students to interview people about their favourite poems, then share them with the class.

16. Create poetry journals

To cultivate a culture of poetry, have students make a designated writing journal where they can keep their initial drafts or keep track of their inspiration.

17. Stick some magnetic poetry tiles

Display magnetic poetry tiles on a metal surface in your classroom. Make this a station in your learning centers or invite students to use it whenever they would like to, which will help you foster a community of poets in your classroom.

18. Create book spine poetry

Similar to found poetry, you can have students write their own poems by stacking book titles. These are fascinating and such a fun surprise! It really limits the word choice available, so your students will need to be thoughtful about how to string the words together.

19. Paint chip poems

Paint chip poems are like letter tiles, but for poems. Each paint chip has different words or phrases that your students can string together to create a new poem. They are physical, interactive, and beautiful!

20. Read verse novels

Instead of a regular novel, incorporate novels written in verse in your class read-alouds. They are typically quick to read, and young writers will be inspired to see the ways the poets shape their poems and adjust them to tell the story in different ways.

21. Write a haiku tunnel book

These 3-D books are the best way to publish your students' haikus! They're absolutely stunning and would easily become a treasured heirloom they'll want to hold onto forever.

22. Memorise a poem

There's something so powerful about teaching yourself to remember something challenging. Encourage your class to memorize either a poem you assign or one of their choice (with some length requirements, as needed). Have them recite their poems to the class in a poetry reading!

23. Write an ice cream poem

If you've never read Jack Prelutsky's poem "Bleezer's Ice Cream, " you're in for a treat! For this poetry writing activity, have your students add 4-5 ice cream flavours to the list. You can even have them draw a long ice cream cone and colour the scoops in different colours to match. This one will get really funny! It's so much fun for elementary students.

24. Sing it

Have your students turn their favourite poem into a song to perform in front of the class! This is a great partner or small group activity, especially. This is the perfect way to think about tone, intonation, and pacing.

25. Act it out

Encourage your students to perform a poem in a new way. Give them some creative leeway to act or perform the poem in a way that suits them, whether that's dance, turning it into a skit, or something else.

26. Analyse a popular song

Once your students understand rhyme scheme, alliteration, and other poetic devices, invite them to look for those things in a popular song and then share their findings with the class. This is a great project for middle school students, high schoolers, or advanced upper elementary students.

27. Picture-based poetry

Offer a few different compelling photos and invite your students to write a poem about what they see or feel. Invite them to play with figurative language or even the shape of the poem to make it stand out.

You can also do this with wordless picture books as well. The best part is that this poetry challenge tends to be really accessible, even for students with writer's block or who think they aren't creative. It's also amazing to see how differently the students in your class interpret the same images!

28. Paper bag poetry

Fill a paper bag with a variety of items and invite students to feel for an item one at a time. They should then create an original poem to share the experience or describe the item in a unique way.

29. Nursery rhyme blocks

For really young students, you can add the each of the words to popular nursery rhymes (or phrases from the rhymes) onto large paper blocks. Then, invite your students to put the blocks together in order. This is a great way to really focus in on the words in a rhyme and practice fluency.

30. Pop Sonnets

For older students, invite them to transform their favourite song into a Shakespearean sonnet!

Since they must be written in iambic pentameter, these are best suited to older students. You could simplify the process for younger students to make them sound Shakespearean (or old-fashioned) without adhering to the same constraints. These make poetry fun and are so memorable!

Where to find poems for kids?

There are lots of wonderful, vocabulary-rich poems out there! These are some of my favorite spots.

Fizzy Funny Fuzzy
Poetry4Kids
Poets.org Poems for Kids
Children's Poetry Archive

40 Inspiring Poetry Games and Activities for Kids and Teens

They are poets, and they know it!

Tired of hearing groans when you announce it’s time for some poetry? Poems can be hard for kids to connect with, so it helps to have some clever poetry games and poetry activities up your sleeve. Try these with our favorite poems for sharing with elementary students and middle and high school students !

Our Favorite Poetry Games and Activities

Screenshot from a poetry video about personification

1. Watch poetry videos

Let YouTube do some of the work for you with this roundup of poetry videos for elementary students. Watch authors read their own poems, learn about poetry terms, and more.

Learn more: Poetry Videos for Elementary School

Picture of Amanda Gorman and a book about her poem The Hill We Climb

2. Climb a hill with Amanda Gorman

Young poet Amanda Gorman took the world by storm when she read her poem “The Hill We Climb” at President Biden’s inauguration. Kids can really relate to her and her words, so try this roundup of poetry activities to introduce her in your classroom.

Learn more: Celebrate Poetry Month With Amanda Gorman

Poem called Bumblebee: Planning for Spring, with a picture of a bee (Poetry Activities)

3. Take inspiration from nature

Nature has always provided inspiration for poets, and it can help your students find their own way to a love of poetry. Find out how poet David Harrison uses nature to help kids tap into their poetic sides.

Learn more: Science and Poetry

4. Read a novel in verse

Help kids find more meaning in poetry by reading novels told in verse. When they have a story to follow, they’re more likely to be engaged and open to learning about the poetic elements. Here are some of our favorite novels in verse for students of all ages.

Learn more: Best Novels in Verse

Books lined up so the titles on their spines form a poem (Poetry Games and Activities)

5. Stack up book spine poetry

Pull some books off the shelves and stack them so their titles create a poem. Kids can take a pic, write the titles down as they are, or use their stack as inspiration for a more fleshed-out masterpiece.

Learn more: How To Create Book Spine Poetry

Cardboard bricks labeled with the words of Humpty Dumpty (Poetry Games and Activities)

6. Build a Humpty Dumpty wall

For most of us, nursery rhymes were the first poems we read, and they’re the perfect place to start with poetry games. Write words on building blocks ( try this set of Giant Cardboard Blocks from Amazon ), then stack them up to build a wall. Kids will get a kick out of these poetry activities by knocking the wall down and then building it up again!

Learn more: Nursery Rhyme Wall

Paper tree hung with paper leaves with poems written on them

7. Plant a poe-tree

“ I think that I shall never see / a poem as lovely as a poe-tree!” Hang a paper tree, then fill it with leaves covered with poetry from your students.

Learn more: Plant a Poe-Tree

Student wearing a cloth blindfold and reaching into a paper bag

8. Try paper bag poetry

Introduce poetry to little ones with a paper bag filled with several items of different sizes, shapes, textures, etc. Kids reach into the bag without looking and describe what they feel in a few words. These words make their first poem. This is one of the great poetry activities for younger students.

Learn more: Paper Bag Poetry

Student using a pointer to point out the words of a poem made using sentence strips in a pocket chart

9. Explore a Poem of the Week

We love the idea of using a pocket chart with sentence strips to post a poem broken down by lines or phrases. Do a different activity each day throughout the week to help students make a connection.

Learn more: Poem of the Week

Whiteboard ledge lined with poetry books; text reads Teaching Poetry

10. Go on a poetry speed date

This is a cool way to introduce older readers to a poetry unit. Gather up all the poetry books you can find, and invite students to bring their favorites too. Students spend the class period “speed dating” the books—they simply browse and skim, looking for poems and authors that catch their eye. Encourage them to make notes of their favorites for further reading.

Learn more: Poetry Speed Dating

Table set to look like a restaurant, with poetry books at each place setting

11. Have a poetry book tasting

Here’s a cool spin on the speed-dating idea—a book tasting! Set up your room to look like a restaurant, play classical music in the background, and then invite students to sit down and try a variety of poetry books.

Learn more: Ideas on how to hold a book tasting

12. Pair up songs and poems

One of the easiest ways for many students to connect with poetry is by linking it with song lyrics. Visit the link below to find 15 fantastic song and poem pairings. Then, challenge your students to make their own pairings and explain the reasoning.

Learn more: Poem and Song Pairings

Poetry book with cards suggesting different voices like

13. Read poetry in different ways

Poetry is all about the reader’s (or listener’s) experience. Experiment with that idea by having kids read poems out loud in a variety of ways. How does it change the experience when you read a sad poem in a silly voice or a funny poem in a scared voice?

Learn more: Poetry Voices

Printable spinner with discussion questions about poetry

14. Spin to generate discussion

A poetry discussion can be hard going for kids at first. Use this free printable spinner to give them conversation starters or to help them choose a topic for further exploration.

Learn more: Poetry Spinner

Paint sample chip in shades of orange with descriptive sentences about the color orange

15. Create colorful paint chip poetry

This is easily one of the most popular poetry games, and for good reason. Colors are so easy to relate to and evoke lots of feelings and memories. Paint chip poetry works for every age group, too, and makes for a neat classroom display.

Learn more: Paint Chip Poetry

Printed paint chip poetry worksheets in shades of blue

16. Expand on paint chip poetry

Feeling a little guilty about furtively stuffing paint chips in your pocket at the store? These printable paint chip poetry games are here to help. They include multiple ways to use paint chips for poetic inspiration too!

Learn more: Paint Chip Poetry Without the Guilt

Paper cow and banana with craft supplies and the poem Hey Diddle Diddle

17. Have a “Hey Diddle, Diddle” puppet show

Nursery rhyme poems were just made to be acted out! Create stick puppets for “Hey Diddle, Diddle” using the instructions at the link, then expand to your other favorite rhymes to assemble a whole puppet show.

Learn more: Hey Diddle, Diddle Nursery Rhyme Craft

Acrostic poem for the word Spring with illustrations around the edge (Poetry Games and Activities)

18. Compose acrostics

Acrostics are simple enough for beginning poets, but even Edgar Allan Poe used this style to create beautiful works. Writing one is almost like putting together a puzzle!

Learn more: Acrostic Poems

Paper dominos with words on each end, matched by rhymes (Poetry Games and Activities)

19. Match DIY rhyming dominoes

Rhyming poetry games are a lot of fun, and this one starts with some DIY dominoes made from sentence strips . This is a clever way to help kids find rhymes for writing their own poems.

Learn more: Rhyming Dominoes and Speedracer Game

Colorful illustration of an ice cream cone with six scoops with creative flavor names like Cabbage Cricket Crunch

20. Scoop up some ice cream poetry

Jack Prelutsky’s “ Bleezer’s Ice Cream ” is a kids’ poetry classic, and it’s sure to spark your students’ imaginations. Have them write and illustrate their own ice cream poems, with a focus on alliteration and other literary devices.

Learn more: Awesome Alliteration Activity

Outline of a hand with the letters H A I K U written on each finger and 5-7-5 on the palm (Poetry Games and Activities)

21. Give haiku a hand

Haiku poems with their standard 5-7-5 syllable structure are fun to write. And let’s face it, most of us count the syllables on our fingers when we do! So this haiku helping hand is a perfect tool for kids. Have kids trace their own hand and write a haiku on it too.

Learn more: Haiku Poetry

Dogku book with illustrated haiku poems about dogs from Teaching Fourth

22. Fetch a doggie haiku

Once you start with haiku, there’s just so much you can do! Elementary kids will love hearing the story of Doug, a dog looking for his forever home, in Dogku by Andrew Clements . As you might guess, the tale is told entirely in haiku. After you read the book, have kids create and illustrate their own “Dogku” poems.

Learn more: Doggie Haiku Poems

Cubes with words on each side, arranged to form a haiku (Poetry Games and Activities)

23. Roll the haiku dice

These are so cool! Haikubes are perfect for all sorts of poetry games. Roll the cubes and create a haiku, or draw a handful from a bag and use them to make your poem. You can use these for other poetry activities too.

Buy it: Haikubes at Amazon

Paper haiku book with illustrations and cutouts

24. Craft 3D tunnel haiku books

Haiku are fun to write, but a 3D tunnel haiku book is next-level awesome. This project looks harder than it is; all you really need are index cards, basic school supplies, and a lot of creativity.

Learn more: Haiku Tunnel Books

Raindrop Rhymes worksheet showing two large raindrops with pictures drawn in them and rhyming lines (Poetry Games and Activities)

25. Be a copycat

We’re normally opposed to copying in the classroom, but for this activity, it’s A-OK! Kids write poems that mimic one they’ve been reading in class. This helps open their minds to the creativity they need to write their own unique verses later on down the line.

Learn more: Copycat Poem

Concrete poem written around the shape of an open book

26. Draw a concrete poem

Concrete poems are art and poetry rolled into one. Kids write a poem on any subject they like, then craft it into a shape reflecting their topic. Tip: Use a light board to allow kids to trace shapes if they find drawing a bit too challenging.

Learn more: Concrete Poems

Printable Poetry Bingo worksheet with pen and paper markers

27. Play Poetry Bingo

Is there anything bingo can’t do? Turns out it even works for poetry games! Get free printable sheets to use for this Poetry Bingo game that reviews literary devices and vocabulary terms.

Learn more: Poetry Bingo

Keep a Poem in Your Pocket bulletin board with denim pockets full of paper slips (Poetry Games and Activities)

28. Keep a poem in your pocket

There are lots of poem-in-your-pocket activities out there, but we love this one for its sheer creativity! During independent reading time, kids explore and find their favorite poem to share with classmates. After they share, they tuck them in a pocket on this spectacular hallway bulletin board for others to find and read. (Turn this into an online activity by using an online bulletin board program like Padlet .)

Learn more: Sharing Poems in Our Pockets

Large cubes with dry-erase surfaces, with clauses written on each side

29. Design your own poetry dice

Learn about clauses when you make a set of dice to use for poetry games. Grab this set of Dry-Erase Blocks from Amazon and write dependent clauses on one and independent clauses on the other. Roll the dice and enjoy the verses you create!

Learn more: Poetry Dice

Printable worksheet from School a Monkey to help kids write rhyming poetry

30. Learn limericks with a rhyming word bank

Kids love limericks —and really, who doesn’t? Their biggest challenge is usually coming up with the rhymes they need. This cool poetry activity creates a bank of rhyming words students can pull from as they craft their own lovable limericks to share.

Learn more: Silly Limericks for Kids

31. Color in blackout poetry

Blackout poems are a unique way of looking at the written word. This activity is easily differentiated for students from elementary through high school, and the results are often stunning.

Learn more: What Is Blackout Poetry (Plus Inspiring Examples and Ideas)

32. Post some pushpin poetry

Remember when poetry magnets were all the rage? You can still buy them ( find them on Amazon ), but you can also just create your own from paper scraps and pushpins. This is a low-cost way to open the door to so many poetry games and activities.

Learn more: Pushpin Poetry

33. Make magnetic poetry online

Speaking of poetry magnets, did you know you can play with them online? Really! This clever site gives you new words every time, so there are always fresh new ideas to explore.

Learn more: Magnetic Poetry Online

Words written on sticky notes arranged into a poem (Poetry Games and Activities)

34. Say it with sticky notes

We love using sticky notes in the classroom , and they’re fantastic for poetry games. Have kids write a selection of words of their choice and stick them to the wall or whiteboard. Then let each student select words to use for their own verses.

Learn more: L iterary Analysis

Paper divided in half with ocean on one side and desert on the other, with a poem in the middle

35. Prove that opposites attract

Even polar opposites can share similarities. For this poetry activity, students choose two opposite subjects, like the ocean and desert shown here. The middle line of the poem highlights the one similarity between the pair and acts as a transition (in this case: sand). Illustrations help tell the story.

Learn more: Diamante Poetry

Found poem made up of words cut from magazines (Poetry Games and Activities)

36. Find poetry everywhere

Found poetry is likely to become one of your students’ favorite poetry games. Give them a stack of magazines, newspapers, or books to look through, along with a pair of scissors. Have them cut out words and phrases they like, and then arrange them into a brand-new poetic masterpiece!

Learn more: How To Write Found Poetry

Cinquain poem worksheet with an illustration of a spider in the grass

37. Start with simple cinquains

Cinquains are five-line poems with a specific structure. There are a variety of styles, but this poetry activity walks kids through the creation of a simple cinquain on any topic they like. This is a neat way to work on “-ing” words (known as gerunds ). Bonus: This free printable Character Cinquains worksheet can be used with any book or story.

Learn more: Poetry Unit

Poetry game with printable game board, cards, and worksheets

38. Learn metaphors and similes

Similes and metaphors are two of the most common literary devices found in poems. Help kids learn to tell the difference with this free printable game.

Learn more: Activities for Teaching Poetry

Metaphor dice with words written on each side

39. Take inspiration from metaphor dice

The right metaphor is the gateway to a unique and meaningful poem. Roll these dice to find a metaphor that will inspire and challenge your young poets.

Buy it: Metaphor Dice at Amazon

40. Host a poetry slam

Round off your poetry unit with a poetry slam ! These events are a combination of recitations and poetry games, like freestyle rhyme battles. This is the ultimate event for poetry lovers of any age. Hold it in person, or stream it on Zoom so anyone can easily attend!

Learn more: How To Host a Poetry Slam and Slam Poetry Examples

Don’t miss our FREE printable poetry worksheet bundle !

What are your favorite poetry activities come share your ideas on the we are teachers helpline group on facebook ., looking for more poetry to use in the classroom check out our list of the best poetry books for kids in grades pre-k through 12 ..

Having trouble getting your students to embrace poetry? Try these poetry games and activities, with terrific options for every grade K-12.

The Hill We Climb guide and Amanda Gorman.

Celebrate Poetry Month With Amanda Gorman

Check out these free resources for Poetry Month and beyond. Continue Reading

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20 FUN poetry activities for kids of all ages! Great ideas for teaching poetry. Thoughtful and engaging activities to help kids understand poetry, play with words, and write their own poems! #poetry #languagearts #poetryforkids

20 Poetry Activities: Reading & Writing Poetry for Kids of All Ages

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Looking for poetry activities that will hook even the most resistant kiddo? Find them right here. I’ve put together 30 ideas for reading poetry, writing poems, and incorporating poetry into your other subjects and lesson plans.

Poetry Activities for All Ages

Whether you’re introducing haiku to your kindergartner, reading limericks with your middle schooler, or writing sonnets with your high schooler, you’ll find engaging poetry activities on this list.

Poetry is for every age group from babies through grown-ups, and anyone can use these activities. So don’t be surprised if you find yourself enjoying poetry a little more – or are inspired to write your own!

Have fun with poetry! Read, write, and incorporate poetry into your lesson plans. There are so many lovely, fun, and engaging poems and poets. Find some poetry that inspires you , and run with it!

10 activities for reading poetry

1. Listen to poetry on audio book

Listen in the car, grab some headphones at home, or bring them along for a poetry walk! You’ll find lovely performances of poetry from famous actors and the author them self! It’s interesting to hear how another reader can change the inflection, tone, and rhythm of some poetry.

If you find yourself tired of reading poetry aloud (hey, it’s not everyone’s jam) and your kid just can’t get into reading it to themselves, try listening to poetry on audio book. You can find cds for the car at your library or check out the variety of poetry available on audible .

2. Act out a poem

Grow like the flower. Soar like the bird. Gently flutter from place to place like the butterfly. Take on the characteristics of the people, animals, or objects in your poems and perform.

3. Dance a poem

Stomp your feet to the rhythm, move like a tree in the wind, or create an interpretive dance. Dance and poetry are both arts. Can you communicate the meaning, the feeling of the poetry with your body?

4. Sing a poem

Some poetry has its own rhythm. Make up a tune to go along with the words. How will your song sound? Sad and low? Upbeat? Loud? Quiet? How can you express the meaning of the poem through more than simply the words.

5. Create a book of selected works

Decide on a theme, author, or style of poetry and create a book of selected works. These can be illustrated pages, typed or hand-written. Find poetry at the library, online, or from your favorite books. Bind them together to create a new book of poetry. Related: Seasonal Haiku Worksheets

6. Compare and contrast poems

Choose two (or more) poems and compare them side-by-side. Choose poems that have one obvious thing in common – same author, same topic, same style, or were written in the same year. Then find all the similarities and differences that you can.

Superficial differences are easy to find – like punctuation or subject. Dig deep. Why were these poems written? What was the author trying to communicate. How were these poems reflective of the time and place they were written?

7. Poetry teatime

Make reading poetry special with a poetry teatime. Everyone brings their own books and reads aloud for a relaxing, sometimes hilarious, and always enjoyable break from a structured lesson.

8. Have a poetry picnic

If a poetry teatime isn’t your jam, head outdoors and make it a poetry picnic. Enjoy reading poetry in a relaxed, social setting. Bring your favorite books and a few new ones, too.

Poetry Activities for reading poetry, writing poems, and incorporating poetry into your other lesson plans!

9. Perform a poem

Some people are born performers! If your child is one of them, encourage them to memorize and perform a poem for you. Trouble with memorizing? Type it out in large print and stage a dramatic reading. They might remember more than they think after practicing a few times.

10. Create a work of art

Mix artistic mediums when you create a work of art inspired by a piece of poetry. Use the paint, chalk, or crayons to express the emotion of the poem and illustrate the imagery. Then hang it on your wall or create a gallery of poetry-inspired works!

Related>>> 10 Sneaky Ways to Incorporate Poetry into Any Subject

10 writing poetry activities.

1. Write a poem

Is this one too obvious? Maybe. But hear me out. If you have a child that is resistant to reading poetry or one that flat out doesn’t like it. Encourage them to write their own.

“ I hate this poem, it’s so boring!” they say. Well, why don’t you write a poem that is better? More adventurous. More exciting. With more rhymes and sillies! Or as serious as a heart attack.

If they think poetry in general is boring, remind them that song lyrics are poetry, too.

2. Use poetry frames

Poetry frames are a simple introduction to writing poetry for elementary aged kids. A poetry frame is a poem with important parts or phrases left blank. Encourage your child to fill in the blanks and create their first poem. Related: Seasonal Poetry Frames – Printable

3. Create a poem with found words

Cut words out of a magazine, ad flyer, or newspaper (do people still get those?). Or be brave and cut up one of your old books from the donation pile. Find words, titles, parts of words, and rearrange letters to create your own poem.

*Travel tip: If you are schooling on the road, this is a great activity for travel! Keep a journal and a glue stick handy and create found poetry from the papers and postings you find along the way.

4. Follow a pattern

If you’re studying a particular type of poetry – sonnets, limericks, and haiku are the most well known examples – study the pattern of the poetry and create your own. This is particularly helpful with kiddos that struggle with the creative side of poetry. Get down and analyze the poem’s algorithm – what makes it unique? The rhyme, rhythm, stanzas, spacing, punctuation…

5. Write an acrostic

We usually think of using acrostic poetry with young children. You certainly can! However, acrostic poetry can be fun for older kids and even adults, too. The vertical line can be a single word with each line beginning with a single letter. Or it can be a word, spelling a sentence with a different meaning (perhaps a the hidden meaning, opposite of what the entire poem expresses?).

6. Create a poetry book

One of my most memorable elementary experiences was creating a poetry book for the 1992 Olympics. This was a 5th grade project (stop calculating my age!), and we created all sorts of poetry – concrete, haiku, acrostic, and limericks.

Create your own poetry book. Choose a current topic (like the Olympics ) or any topic that interests your child. Poetry can be about anything!

7. Take on a different point of view

Write a poem from the perspective of a person, animal, or object other than yourself. Encourage children to think like something else. This could be as funny or serious as you’d like it to be.

What’s it like to be a squirrel in a tree? Or a prince in a castle? What’s it like to be a chair – do they long to be sat on? For a warm body to come join them? Or are you smushing them each time you thump down on their laps?

8. Write a descriptive poem

This is another good one for kids who get stuck on the creative/artistic aspect of poetry. Choose an object – something special or something mundane, and use your senses to describe every little detail of it. Sound, smell, touch, taste, and how it looks. Look closely enough and you’ll find many details.

9. Blackout poetry

What is blackout poetry? It’s when you take an old book and blackout most of the words with a marker to create an entirely new story. Create your own poetry using the words in an old children’s book slated for the donation pile.

10. Poetry journal

Not all poetry needs to be a finished work of art. Grab a journal and start scribbling thoughts. Take what you’ve learned about poems and structure your writing or free write prose and black it out after. Anything goes in a poetry journal! More on Making a Writing Prompt Journal: No Pressure Creative Writing Activities for Kids

If you are looking for poetry journaling inspiration, don’t miss the book Jabberwalking by United States Poet Laureate, Juan Felipe Herrera . This whimsical guide to writing poetry is sure to inspire. Herrera focuses on the process of writing poetry in an engaging an humorous way. Jabberwalkers are poets in motion! This book is truly a work of art.

I hope these poetry activities inspire your poetry lesson plans!

More about poetry… 10 Sneaky Ways to Easily Teach Poetry with Other Subjects Teaching Japanese Haiku Poems to Children + Haiku Worksheets How to Find Poems Kids Like +6 Books They Will LOVE

Ashley helps parents who want to homeschool find the resources they need to successfully teach their children. Ashley is a former teacher, current homeschooler, published author, and designer behind Circle Time with Miss Fox printables as well as the creator of this website, The Homeschool Resource Room.

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How to Write a Lesson Plan on Poetry

Written by Dan

Last updated February 20, 2024

Teaching poetry can be an exciting and engaging way to introduce students to the complexity and beauty of language. Poetry allows students to explore the nuances of language, evoke emotions, and develop a deeper appreciation for the written word.

Through a well-prepared lesson plan, teachers can help students appreciate the intricate art form that is poetry by fostering their creativity and enhancing their understanding of various linguistic elements.

Related : For more, check out our article on Poems About The Moon here.

To create an effective lesson plan on poetry, it is crucial for teachers to first have a clear understanding of what poetry is all about. This means delving into the different styles and forms of poetry and exploring the rich history that shapes the tradition of poetic expression.

Understanding these aspects can help teachers develop a comprehensive and engaging curriculum that not only introduces students to various works of poetry, but also challenges them to analyse and interpret their meanings.

Equipped with this deep understanding, teachers can then begin to construct their lesson plans.

Creating a diversity of activities that cater to different learning styles, such as incorporating creative writing exercises and discussing specific forms of poetry, ensures that students can actively participate in lessons and develop their own voices as poets.

Furthermore, enhancing the classroom experience by including multimedia and interactive discussions can spark students’ interest and encourage them to immerse themselves in the world of poetry.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

A well-prepared lesson plan enables students to appreciate the language and emotions in poetry
Teachers need to understand various styles, forms and history of poetry to create an engaging curriculum
An effective lesson includes diverse activities, creative writing exercises, and a stimulating classroom environment

Understanding Poetry

Elements of Poetry

In order to teach poetry, it’s essential to understand its basic elements. Poetry covers a variety of topics and is expressed through several poetic forms .

It can have a structured or free-flowing structure , which comprises elements like rhythm , rhyme , and syllables .

Exploring the meaning of a poem involves examining its metaphors , similes , and personification . Different poetic techniques are used to enrich the text and evoke the reader’s imagination .

This table provides a framework for writing a lesson plan on poetry, detailing the essential components and offering tips for effective lesson planning. It can be adapted to suit different educational contexts and student needs.

Types of Poems and Poetic Devices

There are numerous poetic forms, such as sonnets , haikus , limericks , and tanka poems . The table below provides an overview of these forms and their features:

In addition to these forms, there are also free verse poems that don’t adhere to a specific structure or rhyme scheme.

Poetry also relies on devices like alliteration , assonance , and rhyming words to create sound effects and meaning. For instance, alliteration involves the repetition of consonant sounds, while assonance focuses on vowel sounds. Utilising these devices can transform the flow and impact of a poem.

Related : For more, check out our article on The best Activities To be Taught In A Poetry Lesson here.

Developing Vocabulary

A crucial aspect of understanding poetry is the use of an extensive and varied vocabulary .

Engaging with new words and phrases not only allows readers to comprehend the poem’s intended meanings but also helps them appreciate the beauty of the language.

When teaching poetry, encourage students to explore unfamiliar words and examine their etymological origins.

Educators can effectively guide students in exploring the nuanced world of poetry by developing a firm grasp of these fundamental components and applying them throughout the lesson plan.

Developing The Lesson Plan

When crafting a lesson plan on poetry for secondary schools, teachers need to employ a variety of teaching resources and strategies. Here, we outline some necessary steps to create an engaging and comprehensive lesson plan.

Firstly , determine the learning objectives for the lesson. Be specific about what you want students to gain from studying poetry.

These objectives should align with the broader literacy goals of the curriculum. It is beneficial to consult resources such as the National Poetry Day or the Poetry Foundation websites for inspiration.

Next, consider incorporating a stimulus as a poem, a video, or an audio recording to spark students’ interest.

Activities like close readings and golden shovel exercises, wherein students create a new poem using words from an existing one, can aid in building their understanding of poetic elements.

Subsequently, integrate writing activities throughout the lesson, allowing students to practise composing poetry in various forms. This may include:

Writing haikus
Crafting sonnets
Experimenting with free verse

To ensure a well-rounded learning experience, include analysis and discussion elements. Encourage students to explore themes, literary devices, and poets’ language techniques.

For example, organise a Poetry Out Loud session, where students actively engage in recitations, discussions, and peer feedback.

Moreover, utilises technology and online platforms to enhance the teaching experience. Websites such as Poets.org and National Poetry Day offer valuable lesson plans, activities, and resources.

Finally, establish a checklist for the lesson, outlining clear instructions and expectations. This may include:

Reading and understanding the chosen poems
Participating in group activities
Completing writing tasks
Engaging in class discussions

A well-crafted lesson plan on poetry effectively utilises resources, promotes engagement, and caters to students’ diverse learning needs.

By incorporating various writing activities, analysis and discussion tasks, and technological support, teachers can create a comprehensive and enjoyable learning experience for their students.

Enhancing Classroom Experience

When teaching poetry, creating a classroom atmosphere that encourages creativity and expression is essential. One approach to foster this environment is through communal storytelling .

Please encourage your students to share their personal experiences, emotions, and ideas with their peers. This process will establish a safe space for them to express their thoughts openly, ultimately creating a more engaging and fulfilling learning experience.

Incorporate different forms of poetry writing within your lesson plan. For instance, introduce your students to the concept of a found poem .

A found poem can be a creative and constructive way to explore new ideas in poetry as they transform existing texts, like book pages or newspaper articles, into something new and original.

Moreover, consider integrating a poetry journal activity as part of your lessons. Ask students to regularly write and reflect on their experiences with poetry during the course.

This will help them track their progress and better understand the subject matter.

Performance poetry provides another engaging and immersive approach to enhance the classroom experience.

Allow students to exhibit their work during classroom performances or even host a poetry slam event, which can be an exciting way for them to showcase their creations and talents.

By incorporating performance, students can realise the potential of their work and how it resonates with an audience.

Utilise communal storytelling
Teach various forms of poetry writing
Include performance poetry activities

Venturing outside the classroom can provide new perspectives and inspiration.

Plan field trips to local poetry events, open mic nights, or workshops with guest poets to expose students to different styles of poetry and creative expression.

Introducing your class to the wider poetry community will help them appreciate the diverse world of poetry and inspire them to create and share their unique pieces.

Incorporating Creative Writing

Creative writing plays a significant role in teaching poetry and enhancing students’ creativity. Employing various techniques and exercises can stimulate their imagination and encourage them to express themselves uniquely.

One fundamental element of creative writing in poetry is the use of imagery . Teachers can introduce students to various forms of imagery, such as visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory.

To inspire students, teachers may provide a list of evocative images or encourage them to find images in their surroundings. For example, they could create a table for students to fill in with their imagery ideas:

Another effective technique is to promote collaboration among students. Group activities can encourage shared ideas and experiences, resulting in a richer and more diverse artistic expression.

Teachers might organise poetry workshops where students can work in small groups to brainstorm ideas, create images, develop metaphors, and critique each other’s work.

To ensure students engage with their imagination , the teacher can prompt them with open-ended exercises or themes rooted in personal experiences.

For instance, they could ask students to write a poem about a cherished memory, explore a new perspective on a familiar object, or imagine the world from an ant’s point of view.

Finally, allowing students to express themselves through various poetic forms and styles is crucial to fostering creativity in their writing. Teachers should present poetic forms – such as sonnets, haikus, and free verse – encouraging students to experiment and find the style that resonates most with them.

Similarly, introducing students to poets from diverse backgrounds and showcasing different poetic traditions can broaden their understanding of the limitless possibilities of poetry.

Incorporating creative writing techniques into a poetry lesson plan can help foster a deeper appreciation for poetry and stimulate the students’ creativity, imagination, and self-expression.

Dealing With Specific Poetry Forms

When writing a lesson plan on poetry, it is essential to address the varying forms of poetry. Each specific poetry form presents different constraints and characteristics that can spark creativity and develop different skills in students.

This section will briefly discuss some popular poetic forms, including haiku, sonnet, limerick, tanka, free verse, found poem , and golden shovel .

A haiku is a traditional Japanese form consisting of three lines with syllable counts of 5-7-5.

It often focuses on capturing the essence of nature and seasons. Teaching haiku can encourage students to observe their surroundings closely, and concisely convey their impressions.

The sonnet is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter, typically iambic pentameter.

There are two main types of sonnets: the Shakespearean (or English) sonnet, with a rhyme scheme of ABABCDCDEFEFGG, and the Petrarchan (or Italian) sonnet, with a rhyme scheme of ABBAABBACDECDE.

Sonnets traditionally explore themes of love and beauty, helping students develop their skills in expressing emotions and structuring thoughts within strict guidelines.

A limerick is a humorous five-line poem with a rhyme scheme of AABBA, where lines 1, 2, and 5 generally have 7-10 syllables and lines 3 and 4 have 5-7 syllables.

The light-hearted nature of limericks can engage students while still demonstrating the importance of rhythm and rhyme.

The tanka poem is another Japanese form, similar to the haiku, consisting of five lines with syllable counts of 5-7-5-7-7.

It often explores emotions or themes beyond those found in haiku, allowing students to dive deeper into their experiences and feelings while maintaining a tight structure.

Free Verse Poem

With no fixed rhyme scheme or meter, free verse poems offer the utmost freedom, allowing students to explore their creativity without form constraints.

When teaching this form, emphasis can be placed on the importance of line breaks, imagery, and other poetic devices.

A found poem is created by rearranging and re-contextualising existing text from various sources, such as newspapers, books, or advertisements.

This form encourages students to develop their skills in interpreting and appreciating language and explore new ways of combining and presenting ideas.

Golden Shovel

The golden shovel is a newer form that pays tribute to an existing poem by incorporating its words into a new composition.

Each word from the original poem is used as the last word of each line in the new poem. This form can teach students the importance of intertextuality and creative reinterpretation of literary works.

Incorporating these different poetic forms into a lesson plan ensures a diverse and engaging exploration of the vast world of poetry, helping students develop various skills and a deeper appreciation for the power of language.

About The Author

I'm Dan Higgins, one of the faces behind The Teaching Couple. With 15 years in the education sector and a decade as a teacher, I've witnessed the highs and lows of school life. Over the years, my passion for supporting fellow teachers and making school more bearable has grown. The Teaching Couple is my platform to share strategies, tips, and insights from my journey. Together, we can shape a better school experience for all.

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ENGL 4800 Advanced Poetry Writing

Course description.

Course information provided by the Courses of Study 2023-2024 . Courses of Study 2024-2025 is scheduled to publish mid-June.

This course is intended for creative writers who have completed ENGL 3840 or ENGL 3850 and wish to refine their poetry writing. It may include significant reading and discussion, explorations of form and technique, completion of writing assignments and prompts, and workshop peer review of student work. In addition to the instructor's assigned writing requirements, students may work on longer-form verse writing projects.

When Offered Fall, Spring.

Prerequisites/Corequisites Prerequisite: ENGL 3840 is strongly recommended.

Distribution Category (ALC-AS, LA-AS) Satisfies Requirement ENGL 4800 counts toward the English major and may be used to satisfy the 4000-level creative writing requirement for the Creative Writing minor.

Comments Students may take ENGL 4800 more than once. Pre-enrollment does not guarantee a place in the class. Students may not take ENGL 3820, ENGL 3840, or ENGL 4801 in the same semester as ENGL 4800.

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3 Credits Stdnt Opt (Letter or S/U grades)

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12264 ENGL 4800 SEM 101

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T 2:00pm - 4:30pm To Be Assigned
Aug 26 - Dec 9, 2024

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Van Clief-Stefanon, L

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2024 creative writing award winners, april 11, 2024.

Quantá Holden | Duke English | Digital Communication Specialist

The English Department at Duke University is honored to announce the winners of the 2024 Creative Writing Contests and Creative Writing Scholarships. Annually, the department administers creative writing contests to recognize fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry works by English majors and non-major undergraduates.

The English Department is honored to announce the winners of its 2024 writing contests. The department administers writing contests to recognize fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and critical writing by English majors and non-major undergraduates.

Congratulations to all of this year's winners!

Anne Flexner Memorial Award for Fiction Family members and friends of former English student Anne Flexner (1945) established the Anne Flexner Memorial Award for Creative Writing to recognize undergraduates for their work in fiction and poetry.

Makee Gonzalez Anderson ’24 - “Here, in the Past Tense” Second Prize: Emma Huang, ’25 - "ABEL’S PLACE"

Reynolds Price Award for Fiction The Reynolds Price Fiction Award was established in memory of the distinguished novelist, essayist, poet, and public intellectual Reynolds Price, a graduate of Duke and professor in the English Department for over 50 years. Tomas Esber, ’24 - “Ridgewood” Second Prize: Matthew Chen, ’26 - “ABC” & “Chair"

CREATIVE NONFICTION

George P. Lucaci Award for Creative NonFiction This award was created to encourage creative nonfiction writing and honor George P. Lucaci, a former Duke student who has actively supported undergraduate creative writing in the English Department for many years.

Ruby Wang, ’24 - “Blood Orison” Second Prize: Rowan Huang, ’24 - “Arms Outstretched"

Academy of American Poets Prize Founded in 1934 in New York City, the Academy of American Poets is the largest membership-based nonprofit organization advocating for American poets and poetry.  Its mission is to support American poets at all stages of their careers and foster contemporary poetry appreciation. Nima Babajani-Feremi, ’24 - “Dreams to Persepolis” Honorable Mention: Tyler King, ’25 - "NO QUARTER"

Anne Flexner Memorial Award for Poetry Family members and friends of former English student Anne Flexner (1945) established the Anne Flexner Memorial Award for Creative Writing to recognize undergraduates for their work in fiction and poetry. Jocelyn Chin, 24 - “Endurance” Second Prize: Arielle Stern, ’25 - "The Poem as Event"

Terry Welby Tyler, Jr. Award for Poetry This award was established by the family of Terry Welby Tyler, Jr., who would have graduated with the class of 1997 to recognize and honor outstanding undergraduate poetry. Arim Lim, ’26 - "Archeopteryx"

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Lewis Center for the Arts’ Princeton Atelier presents a concert of original songs by students in the spring course, “How to Write a Song”

Princeton students perform April 23 at 4:30 p.m. at Frist Film/Performance Theatre

Students in Princeton University’s spring course, “How to Write a Song,” offered by the Princeton Atelier at the Lewis Center for the Arts, will present a concert of original songs on Tuesday, April 23, at 4:30 p.m. in the Frist Film/Performance Theatre at Frist Campus Center on the Princeton campus. The students will present selected new songs with music and lyrics written over the past semester. The concert is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. Guests in need of access accommodations are invited to contact the Lewis Center at [email protected] at least one week prior to the event date.

A group of people pose for a large group portrait, some standing, sitting on a yellow couch, and 1 lying in front with a mic.

Students and instructor Bridget Kearney who will perform new songs they have written in the spring Princeton Atelier course “How to Write a Song.” Photo credit: Brandon Le

“How to Write a Song” is taught this semester by Bridget Kearney, a founding member of the band Lake Street Dive. Each week the students, all with varying levels of literary and musical backgrounds, split into different groupings of four or five participants and wrote lyrics and composed tunes on an assigned emotional topic, such as gratitude, loss, protest, desire, joyousness, remorse, and defiance. At each class, the students performed their pieces for Kearney and their classmates, who then provided critiques. Guest critics and singer/songwriters joined the class to share their experience and to listen to and provide feedback to the student songwriters. Some of the guests this semester included Arooj Aftab, Cautious Clay and Akie Bermiss.

“The class has really dug deep over the course of the semester and written over 100 songs, honing their craft as lyricists, baring their souls in song and even trying some new instruments for the first time,” said Kearney. “No subject matter has been overlooked, from zooming in on the overlooked beauties of everyday life to zooming out to global and generational stories. We’ll be selecting our favorite songs from the semester to share at the final concert, and it is sure to bring the house down!”

The Princeton Atelier , celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, was founded by Princeton Professor Emerita Toni Morrison and is directed by Paul Muldoon, Princeton’s Howard G.B. Clark ’21 Professor in the Humanities and Professor of Creative Writing. The Atelier brings professional artists from different disciplines together with Princeton faculty and students to create new work in the context of a semester-long course that usually culminates in the public presentation of the new work. Participating Atelier artists often select a project they want to explore and experiment within the context of a class with Princeton students before developing it for the professional art world. Previous artists have included the choreographer Jacques d’Amboise, cellist Yo-yo Ma, playwright Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, multimedia artist Laurie Anderson, theater artist Basil Twist, choreographer Monica Bill Barnes, the theater ensemble Elevator Repair Service, percussionist Evelyn Glennie, and the Wakka Wakka puppet theater.

Kearney, who has co-taught “How to Write a Song” with Muldoon in past years, is a songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer. A founding member of the band Lake Street Dive, she has performed at Radio City Music Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks Amphitheater, and The White House South Lawn, as well as appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Colbert Report, Ellen , and Conan . Her 3rd solo album, Comeback Kid , comes out this month on Keeled Scales. With Lake Street Dive she will release a new album in June and headline Madison Square Garden in September. Kearney holds a Bachelors in Music from the New England Conservatory in Jazz Studies (bass) and Bachelor of Arts from Tufts University in English.

Visit the Lewis Center website to learn more about the Princeton Atelier, the Lewis Center for the Arts, and the more than 100 public performances, exhibitions, readings, screenings, concerts, lectures, and special events presented by the Lewis Center each year, most of them free.

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Lewis Center for the Arts’ Princeton Atelier presents Mr g: A Play About the Creation

Program in Creative Writing Celebrates National Poetry Month 2024

How to Write a Song: Concert of New Songs

How to Write a Song

Bridget Kearney

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101 Poetry Prompts & Creative Ideas for Writing Poems
29. Circus Performers: Write your poetry inspired by a circus performer - a trapeze artist, the clowns, the ringmaster, the animal trainers, etc. 30. Riding on the Bus: Write a poem based on a time you've traveled by bus - whether a school bus, around town, or a long distance trip to visit a certain destination. 31.
132 Best Poetry Prompts and Ideas to Spark Creativity
Poetry is almost synonymous with people's emotional footprint. These 10 prompts cover a wide range of human emotions, so dive in deep! Write a poem about a moment when you felt overwhelmingly joyful. Try to convey this emotion by depicting the setting, the time, and what prompted this strong feeling of happiness and joy.
15 Fun Poetry Activities for High School
Here are 12 great songs to analyze if you aren't sure where to start: "Across the Universe" by the Beatles. "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan. "Blank Space" by Taylor Swift. "Chasing Pavements" by Adele. "Infinity" by Mariah Carey. "Stereo Hearts" by Gym Class Heroes. "Counting Stars" by One Republic.
9 Creative Writing Exercises For Poets
2. Brainstorm Ideas. Try these exercises as a jumping off point for a new poem. Use flash cards. Think of a topic. Take ten blank flash cards and on one side of each flash card, write a line about this topic. Use a mixture of emotional detail, concrete detail, and images when writing these lines.
20 Easy Poetry Writing Prompts and Exercises
Whatever word you're pointing at, use it as a poem title and write that poem. 17. Write a poem late at night, by hand, by candlelight. 18. Fill a page with free-writing using your non-dominant hand. This can help you tap into less rational, more creative thought patterns. 19.
50 Poetry Prompts to Help Jumpstart Your Creativity
Write a poem about a country you've never been to but would like to visit one day. 5. Write about your childhood best friend. 6. Write a poem to your younger self. 7. Imagine your life five years from now. 8. Compose a haiku without using the letter 'e.'.
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Poetry & Practice Writing Activities. Poetry & Practice Writing Activities Skip to Content. Show Menu Poetry Foundation. Poems & Poets ... Creative Writers; Showing 1 to 12 of 97 Articles Learning Prompt. ... —James BaldwinWriting poems can be the articulation of a kind of listening. We listen to the poems we've dog-eared in...
Unlock Your Imagination: 15 Poetry Writing Exercises to Fuel Your
A key aspect of creative writing for poetry is the ability to create vivid narratives within the poems. By visualizing characters, settings, and events, poets can develop compelling storylines and engage readers on a deeper level. This exercise allows poets to experiment with different perspectives, voices, and plot structures, adding depth and ...
How to Use Fun Activities to Teach Poetry
Fun Activities to Teach Poetry Analysis. Once students have a handle on some basic literary terms, you'll probably want them to put that new language to work analyzing some poetry. Even in my creative writing classes, I include poetry analysis because I believe that using mentor texts for writing can be so powerful. Poetry Warm-ups
Poetry Writing Ideas and Activities
Below are some poetry writing ideas mixed with activities to get poetry flowing. Take a poetry walk. Grab a recorder or a notebook and then set out on foot. You can use a timer and stop every five minutes to jot down a line, or take a break whenever you see something interesting or inspiring and note it. When you get home, work it all into a poem.
Poetry Writing 101
benefit 4. Improving language skills and vocabulary. Poetry writing can be a highly beneficial and rewarding activity for many people. It is a powerful way to express emotions, thoughts, and ideas, and can help to improve writing skills, creativity, and self-expression. Some of the key benefits of poetry writing include:
Verse in the Virtual World: 30+ creative poetry classroom activities
This collection of 30+ free, online poetry lessons should serve as inspiration to make poetry engaging and accessible where every click can cultivate a couplet and every screen can spark a sonnet. I invite you to rhyme, revel, and resonate with your students, turning tech into the ultimate muse for tomorrow's poets.
7 Poetry Activities Students Love
Keep reading as I reveal the poetry activities my students love the most. ENGAGING POETRY ACTIVITIES. 1. NONFICTION-INSPIRED POETRY. I enjoy shape and collage poetry, but sometimes I want to challenge my high school students more. Since concrete poetry is something that interests them, I incorporate a twist off of concrete and found poetry ...
Poetry Activities: Six Simple Ways to Make Poetry Instruction Engaging
Fun and nontraditional poems can inspire students to produce original pieces beyond our imaginations. Concrete poems, creative nonfiction, nonsense poems, bio poems, six-room poems, blackout poetry, and acrostics are just a handful of examples that prove allowing a different style of creativity to creep into poetry instruction can revolutionize ...
The Top 10 Activities To Use In A Poetry Lesson
Creative projects (e.g., writing their own poems) These activities should be tailored to suit the needs of all learners, ensuring that each student has the opportunity to thrive in a poetry lesson. Ultimately, a well-prepared lesson plan, diverse resources, and a focus on building students' confidence provide the ideal environment for poetry ...
Interactive Poetry Activities Your Students Will Love
Finally, instruct students to glue their poem into place on a colorful piece of paper and decorate your room with the beauty and power of poetry. 4. Poetry Escape Room. A poetry escape room is the most engaging and fun way to introduce or review poetry with your students. Escape rooms by nature are hands on and engaging.
4 Poetry Writing Exercise Structures for High School Workshops
First, workshop leaders lead a discussion about the poems. Then students generate several lists based on the poems. For a workshop about names, examples might include "nicknames you were given" or "times someone mispronounced your name.". Finally, the workshop leader gives a writing prompt: "write a poem that talks about your ...
How To Implement Poetry Activities In The Classroom: Ideas, Examples
34. Color Poems. Color poems are great for exploring creative writing through an analysis of different colors! During this process, you will encourage your students to brainstorm words, actions, and objects that they associate with each color, resulting in some pretty unexpected and unique poems! Learn More: Teach Living Poets. 35. Poetic ...
9 totally unique poetry activities for high school students
Studying poetry with high schoolers can be really fun. There are so many different forms of poetry — yes, including pop songs! — and writing poems is an incredible creative outlet for teenagers. Here's a rundown of fun poetry games and activities, which can work for standalone high school lessons or as warm-ups to a writing assignment.
30 Fun Poetry Games & Activities for the Classroom
Whether you're trying to celebrate National Poetry Month or want to incorporate fun poetry activities throughout the year, these activities and games are a fun way to foster a love for figurative language and creative writing! Poetry exposes kids to rich vocabulary, and teaches them to become critical and creative thinkers about language.
40 Inspiring Poetry Games and Activities for the Classroom
15. Create colorful paint chip poetry. This is easily one of the most popular poetry games, and for good reason. Colors are so easy to relate to and evoke lots of feelings and memories. Paint chip poetry works for every age group, too, and makes for a neat classroom display.
20 Poetry Activities: Reading & Writing Poetry for Kids of All Ages
Soar like the bird. Gently flutter from place to place like the butterfly. Take on the characteristics of the people, animals, or objects in your poems and perform. 3. Dance a poem. Stomp your feet to the rhythm, move like a tree in the wind, or create an interpretive dance. Dance and poetry are both arts.
How to Write a Lesson Plan on Poetry
Use formative assessments like exit tickets, poetry writing tasks, or group discussions to gauge understanding. Conclusion: Lesson Wrap-Up: ... One fundamental element of creative writing in poetry is the use of imagery. Teachers can introduce students to various forms of imagery, such as visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory. ...
Program in Creative Writing Celebrates National Poetry Month 2024
April 11, 2024. Program in Creative Writing Celebrates National Poetry Month 2024. Creative Writing. To celebrate National Poetry Month in April, the Lewis Center for the Arts invited seniors writing a poetry collection as their creative writing thesis to read one of their poems. Click the images below to listen to the poems of Juliette ...
A Guide to Paraphrasing Poetry, With Examples
Paraphrasing poetry is a common creative and academic exercise that helps you gain a greater understanding of the art form. Paraphrasing, or rewriting, a poem is often necessary for essays, research papers, exams, or other academic writing to analyze or demonstrate an understanding of the original work.. Poetry is deceptively complex for typically consisting of such short texts.
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
Creative Writing Program Details. Our Masters of Creative Writing degree program offers comprehensive online courses in literary arts, encompassing advanced writing studies in various genres such as fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and more. Students benefit from one-on-one mentorship with renowned and published writers in their respective genres ...
fi_CWR-poetry-month-2024
Receive Lewis Center Events & News Updates. Lewis Arts Complex / 122 Alexander Street. Program In Visual Arts / 185 Nassau Street. Program In Creative Writing / 6 New South. 609.258.1500
Class Roster
This course is intended for creative writers who have completed ENGL 3840 or ENGL 3850 and wish to refine their poetry writing. It may include significant reading and discussion, explorations of form and technique, completion of writing assignments and prompts, and workshop peer review of student work. In addition to the instructor's assigned writing requirements, students may work on longer ...
2024 Creative Writing Award Winners
The English Department at Duke University is honored to announce the winners of the 2024 Creative Writing Contests and Creative Writing Scholarships. Annually, the department administers creative writing contests to recognize fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry works by English majors and non-major undergraduates. The English Department is honored to announce the winners of its 2024 ...
Lewis Center for the Arts' Princeton Atelier presents a concert of
"How to Write a Song" is taught this semester by Bridget Kearney, a founding member of the band Lake Street Dive. Each week the students, all with varying levels of literary and musical backgrounds, split into different groupings of four or five participants and wrote lyrics and composed tunes on an assigned emotional topic, such as gratitude, loss, protest, desire, joyousness, remorse ...

101 Poetry Prompts & Ideas for Writing Poems

Here are 101 Poetry Prompts for Creative Writing

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Ideas for poems about different types of emotions

Ideas for poems about love

Ideas for poems about life in general

Ideas for poems about death

Ideas for poems about philosophy

Ideas for poems about everyday things

Ideas for poems about time

Ideas for poems about different forms of art

Ideas for poems about historical events

Ideas for poems about religion and spirituality

Ideas for poems about family life

Ideas for poems about nature and travelling

Ideas for poems with supernatural elements

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Slam Poetry

Paint Chip Poetry

Blackout Poetry

Book Spine Poetry

Poetry Tasting

Poetry Transformations

Found Poems

Easter Egg Poems

Favorite Poem Project

Metaphor Dice

Poems as Mentor Texts

Here are 12 great mentor poems if you’re not sure where to start:

Magnetic Poetry

Interactive Poetry Bulletin Board

About Lindsay Ann

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tell your stories, love your life

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Discover more from BRYN DONOVAN

Unlock Your Imagination: 15 Poetry Writing Exercises to Fuel Your Creativity

What is creative writing and why is it important for poetry?

Immersing in sensory experiences

Describing abstract concepts with imagery

Creating vivid narratives

Exploring word associations

Experimenting with word sounds

Using word constraints

Writing in different poetic forms

Collaborative poetry exercises

Found poetry

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