Cinquain — Let’s Talk About Poetry
Cinquain (pronounced sin-KAYN) is a fun and short poetic form that uses a specific syllable structure to create a five-line poem. It is one of the best ways to start your poem writing, as it is easy to write.
Structure: A cinquain follows a specific syllable pattern:
- Line 1: Two syllables (usually a noun, the subject)
- Line 2: Four syllables (descriptive adjectives)
- Line 3: Six syllables (action verbs describing the subject)
- Line 4: Eight syllables (a phrase about the subject)
- Line 5: Two syllables (a concluding word, often a synonym or summary)
The word “cinquain” itself is relatively recent, emerging in the 19th century. It’s derived from the French word “cinq,” meaning “five,” likely referencing the five-line structure of the poem. While the exact origin is unclear, the credit for introducing the five-line, syllabic form we know today as the “cinquain” is generally given to American poet Adelaide Crapsey (1878–1914).
In her 1915 posthumous collection titled “Verse,” Crapsey included 28 cinquains. These poems followed a specific structure with a set number of syllables in each line: 2, 4, 6, 8, and 2 syllables respectively. This established the modern form of the cinquain used in classrooms and creative writing exercises today.
Listen…
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost-crisp’d, break from the trees
And fall.
-‘November Night’ by Adelaide Crapsey
Many use this type of poem for kid education. Like-
“Watermelon
Juicy, sweet
Dripping, slurping, smacking
So messy to eat
Yummy”
- Watermelon by Anonymous
Cinquains are a great way to practice wordplay, imagery, and capturing a subject’s essence in a nutshell.
The cinquain, with its simplicity and depth, offers a unique way to express yourself. So, grab a pen, pick a subject, and write your own poem!
