Page 4 - Book VI Unit 5
P. 4
Another simple form of poem that amateurs can D
easily write is the cinquain, which is made up of five Brother
Beautiful, athletic
lines. With these, you can convey a strong picture Teasing, shouting, laughing
or a certain mood in just a few words. Look at the Friend and enemy too
example (D). Mine
Haiku is a Japanese form of poetry that consists of E
17 syllables. It has a format of three lines, containing A fallen blossom
5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively. It is not a traditional Is coming back to the branch.
form of English poetry, but is very popular with Look, a butterfly!
English writers. It is easy to write and, like the
cinquain, can give a clear picture and create a special
feeling using very few words. The haiku poem (E) F
on the right is a translation from Japanese, which Where she awaits her husband
shows a moment in the life of a delicate butterfly. On and on the river flows.
Never looking back,
English speakers also enjoy poems from China, Transformed into stone.
those from the Tang Dynasty in particular. A lot of Day by day upon the mountain top,
Tang poetry has been translated into English, such wind and rain revolve.
as this one (F). Should the traveller return,
this stone would utter speech.
With so many different forms of poetry to choose Wang Jian
from, you may eventually want to write poems of
your own. Give it a try!
Poetry comprehension
Poems paint pictures with words through the use of figures of speech and metaphors, so to
understand a poem fully, you have to imagine in your mind the picture the poem is painting. Further,
the sounds, rhythm, and rhymes in a poem give it a musical quality. Poems often have to be read
aloud, and with feeling, to be really understood and enjoyed.
Type of poem Characteristics Example Topics and poetic devices
• concrete but creative language • love between father and baby
Nursery rhyme A
• rhymes, repetition
B
List poem
C
Cinquain D
Haiku E
Tang poem F
3 Listen to the recording of the text and read aloud the poems.
UNIT 5 POEMS 51
