Acrostic Poems
Acrostic Poems
SplashingRaindrops
Initiate
New
Growth
If you look closely at the poem above, you'll notice something cool. The first letters of each word spell out the word SPRING, which is the subject of the poem.
This type of poem is called an acrostic poem.
In an acrostic poem, the first word in each line starts with a letter in a word that represents the subject of the poem. Each line can have one word or more than one word.
Here's another example:
Bouncing the ball
All around the Court
Swish into the net!
Keeping in step
Everyone watching as
Teammates pass the
Ball back
And forth, and then
Let it fly for a
Layup.
Sometimes acrostic poems spell out names. The poem usually describes a person with that name.
Silly and quirky
Always lots of fun
My wonderful son
In this poem, Lewis Carroll spells out multiple names. Can you tell what they are?
Little maidens, when you look
On this little story-book,
Reading with attentive eye
Its enticing history,
Never think that hours of play
Are your only HOLIDAY.
And that in a HOUSE of joy
Lessons serve but to annoy:
If in any HOUSE you find
Children of a gentle mind,
Each the others pleasing ever.
Each the others vexing never—
Daily work and pastime daily
In their order taking gaily—
Then be very sure that they
Have a life of HOLIDAY.
If you look closely, you will see that the names are Lorina, Alice, and Edith.
Can you write an acrostic poem using your name?
Sometimes acrostic poems hide the word in different positions.
Unpacking my Lunch box
Eww! Is that lettUce?
I can't eat my saNdwich.
Where are the Cookies?
Why is it so Healthy?
In that poem, the author spelled out the word LUNCH by capitalizing the different letters as they appeared in the lines of the poem.
Now try writing an acrostic poem of your own.
Remember: The word you spell out must be connected to the subject of the poem.
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