Last week, Brad Osbourne, the poet laureate of WordPress at commonsensiblyspeaking, shared a style of poetry known as a Diamante poem, as part of his weekly Whittled Words series.
Here is the format of such a poem:
A diamante poem is a 7-line poem that looks like a diamond. It can be used to describe 1 topic or 2 opposite topics.
- Line 1: 1 word (subject/noun)
- Line 2: 2 adjectives that describe line 1
- Line 3: 3 -ing words that relate to line 1
- Line 4: 4 nouns (first 2 relate to line 1, last 2 relate to line 7โif youโre writing about opposite topics)
- Line 5: 3 -ing words that relate to line 7
- Line 6: 2 adjectives that describe line 7
- Line 7: 1 word (subject/noun)
I then started reading the comments, and one of them from Beth at the wonderful website I Didn’t Have My Glasses On, really left an impression:
I love this one, and had my kinder create one in this style years ago. turned out very well.
As soon as I saw that, I thought game on. If a kinder can create such a poem, so can I. It certainly wouldn’t be as good, but that’s in keeping with the overall theme of my website anyway.
So here we go:
Summer
Warm, Awesome
Swimming, Relaxing, Enjoying
Freedom, Sunshine, Prisoner, Darkness
Freezing, Whining, Waiting
Cold, Yucky
Winter
And there you have it, my first diamante. So easy, even a 63-year-old accounting teacher can do it…
Thanks to Brad and Beth for the motivation…
You produced a wonderful diamante poem, but sorry I must give the nod in creativity to the kindergarten kid. Any five year old who can count and come up with nouns, adjectives, and ing words gets my vote.
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yes, that sounds like an impressive feat to me as well. But I was kind of proud that I also could come up with nouns, adjectives, and ing words
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Sounds eloquent and beautiful, even though I really don’t get it.
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I could have bolied the poem down to four words:
summer good, winter bad
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Now that I get. And I agree.
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that’s the pre-k version…
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Beginners Luck.
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for sure, and that’s probably why it’s a one and done attempt. I don’t want to experience the sophomore slump… (or perhaps in this case, the first-grader’s slump).
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That’s very good.
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thank you, Tandy!
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A perfect example of the Diamante form and beautifully written. Thank you for the shout out. I love this form for the simplicity of the concept (somebody help Tippy figure it out) and especially when it moves between polar opposites. This is the second poem you have created, as I believe we have a haiku somewhere in your archives too. Well done, Professor Q!
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thanks, Brad, I had a good teacher!
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Well done, Jim. I doubt any of us can really be as creative as kindergarden children. We have to much other information in our heads to allow for the clear creative vision of the very young.
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quite true, Robbie. We are no match for the young when it comes to creativity. But I don’t think many kindergarten students could come up with your fondant art creations!
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Haha, they do, but they are not quite as detailed and perfect.
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that’s what editors are for ๐
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So impressed that I give you a gold star! โญ ๐
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Yay! I haven’t got one of those since that 100 I got on a spelling test ๐
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Well done, Jim. You can progress to … whatever comes after kindergarten. (I’m not sure what you call it over there.)
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college… ๐
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๐
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i think you’d fit right in, jim! the kinder would welcome you with open arms and support your efforts. like brad said, we appreciate the shout out!
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I wish I could go back to kindergarten. Maybe I would learn to appreciate arts and crafts… ๐
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You would help them keep stats on who got the most snacks, had the most markets, most time on the swings, etc. – thereโs an important role for everyone
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I would need to spend more time on finger painting and dancing and singing…
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you could have as much time as you need for your artistic pursuits
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I would need a lot of time…
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Awesome? Yucky? Are you sure you arenโt still in kindergarten?
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๐
I think the problem is I’m surrounded by college kids all day…
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I think you need to take a course in grown-up words ๐
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but then non one would understand what I’m talking about.. ๐
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Youโre assuming they do nowโฆ
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you make a valid point… ๐
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๐
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Like it!
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thanks, David!
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I thought I’d commented but I guess not. Your poem is fantastic but I have to go with the kid in kindergarten who can come up with nouns and adjectives and ing words and count,
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I remember commenting on your original comment – very strange. I was also impressed with my ability to do so as well…
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You know we had fourth graders write that kind of poem, too, Jim. This would be a good post to link to my Writer’s Quotes Wednesdays this week about summer – you even have the requisite quote. ๐ Love the diamante. ๐
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it seemslike it must be a ncie way to introcuce students to poetry. and thanks for the suggestion; but I have trouble keeping track of my own posts and what day of the week it is ๐
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LOL I don’t know how you teach and blog at the same time – and have a life! ๐
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it’s that life part that usually takes a back seat ๐
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LOL
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