How to Write a Cinquain Poem

Guide Note

One of the greatest things about writing poetry is that you never seem to run out of styles to try and master. While the cinquain is one of the simpler styles of poetry, there are many ways it can be used to make a statement. If you've been assigned a cinquain by your teacher (or you're just looking to expand your poetic horizons), read on for some pointers to get you started.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Step 1: Focus on Syllables
• Step 2: Focus on Words
• Step 3: Focus on Descriptions
• Step 4: Beyond the Basics
• Conclusion
• References

Cinquain Writing Tips

1. Read a few examples of cinquains.
2. Study the syllable pattern.
3. Write following a syllable pattern.
4. Study word patterns.
5. Write following word patterns.
6. Study description patterns.
7. Write descriptively.
8. Remember to use your words wisely.
9. Combine what you know with other styles or create your own.
10. Share your poetry with others.

• by Jenny Hudock

Introduction

• The most well-known version of the cinquain is fairly new as far as styles of poetry go. Inspired by Japanese haiku and tanka, the first cinquains were written by American poet Adelaide Crapsey in 1915.¹

• Five lines are the key to writing a cinquain, but stylistically you can incorporate meter and rhyme patterns to make yours really stand out. There are many different styles of cinquains, and like the couplet and quatrain, it can be used to enhance or create longer styles of poetry.

Step 1: Focus on Syllables

Find inspiration from other poets. (Creative Commons photo by Chilli Head)

• The most popular version of the cinquain, the Crapsey Cinquain, is comprised of five lines. Crapsey often cleverly utilized the title as a sixth line to enhance the statement of her cinquain.¹ What makes the rules for a cinquain similar to haiku is the focus on syllables.²

• The pattern of the cinquain is as follows:

1. Begin with a two syllable line.³
2. The next line increases to four syllables.⁴
3. Line three adds two syllables to make six.⁵
4. Line four requires eight syllables.⁵
5. Line five returns to two syllables.³

• Let's take a look at one of Adelaide Crapsey's most famous cinquains entitled "Triad":

• "Triad"

• These be (2)
• Three silent things: (4)
• The falling snow... the hour (6)
• Before the dawn... the mouth of one (8)
• Just dead. (2)⁶

Step 2: Focus on Words

• A second style of cinquain focuses on the word patterns, rather than the syllables. Each line contains the number of words relating to its place in the poem, for example:²

1. Line one contains one word.⁷
2. Line two has two words.²
3. Line three is made up of three words.⁷
4. Line four has four words.²
5. Line five returns to one word.⁷

• For example:

• Snow (1)
• white blanket (2)
• gently falling down (3)
• a spiral patterned dance (4)
• delightful (1)

Step 3: Focus on Descriptions

• A third popular style for cinquain writing is to focus on the structure and word meaning together.

1. Line one acts as a title, so use a vague, two syllable word you want to enhance with the rest of the poem.⁸
2. Line two is four syllables that describe the subject/title.⁴
3. The third line is six syllables and made up of adjectives that often end in -ing.^{9 8}
4. Eight syllables make up the fourth line. You want to use feeling words that relate to the subject.¹⁰
5. The fifth line returns to two syllables. Use a simile, a word with the same meaning as your first line.⁹

(Creative Commons photo by Sharon Mollerus)

• For example:

• Sunrise (2)
• another day (4)
• climbing, stretching, reaching (6)
• tranquil moment, absolute peace (8)
• it's dawn. (2)

• Note how the second stanza is a noun that describes the first, and the third takes action. The fourth stanza shows how the sunrise makes the speaker feel, and the fifth is a two syllable simile for the first stanza.

Step 4: Beyond the Basics

• Now that you have a basic understanding of how to write a cinquain, there are a number of techniques you can use to enhance its subtlety.

1. Since there are so few of them, remember to use your words wisely.¹
2. Try adding a noticeable rhyme pattern to your cinquain.¹¹
3. For a new twist, reverse the syllable pattern to 2, 8, 6, 4, 2.¹²
4. Try stringing a series of cinquains together to make a longer poem. There are a number of styles that do this:
   1. A Crown Cinquain is five cinquains that make up a longer poem.¹²
   2. Quintiles are multiple cinquains that center around the same subject.¹⁰
5. Write a mirror cinquain, which is a regular cinquain followed by a reverse cinquain.¹²
6. Get creative, and make up your own style using the cinquain as your inspiration.

Conclusion

• Writing a cinquain is fairly easy, but as with all poetry, once you have it down you'll be anxious to find new ways to exercise your new knowledge. Don't forget to share your poems with your writer's circle, and take advantage of any opportunity you can to read your work out loud to an audience.

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References for How to Write a Cinquain

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Cinquain.org: The Crapsey Cinquain and Its Variations
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} ABC Teach: How to Write a Cinquain (12.29 KB)  
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Dragon Writing Prompts: More nontraditional cinquains and the real one (April 27, 2006)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Halifax Regional School Board: How to Write Cinquain Poetry
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Cinquain.org: Crapsey Cinquain
6. ↑ AHA Poetry: Cinquain
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2} Can Teach: How to Write a Cinquain
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1} In Our Write Minds: Writing a Cinquain Poem (March 28, 2008)
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1} Prince Edward Island: Cinquain Resources and Lesson Plans
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Blood and Ink: Formal Construction in Poetry - Part 2 (September 24, 2007)
11. ↑ WikiHow: How to Write a Cinquain Poem
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1 12.2} Cinquain.org: Cinquain Variations