Cinquain Poems

A cinquain (pronounced sin-kwain or sin-kane) poem is five line descriptive poem that focuses on one specific person, place, or thing.  Each line uses a specific number and type of words.

Writing a Cinquain

Line 1: 1 word name of the person, place, or thing that you want to write about

Line 2: 2 word description of your subject

Line 3: 3 word description of an action or activity that your subject does

Line 4: 4 word phrase that describes a feeling your subject has

Line 5: 1 word synonym, or different word with the same meaning, to call your subject

Your cinquain can stand alone or be part of a series of cinquains.  For example, you might do one cinquain about the town that you grew up in and a series of five cinquains for members of your family.  Your cinquain does not need to rhyme.

Examples of Cinquains:

Mom
Helpful, caring
Loves to garden
Excitable, likes satisfying people
Teacher

Bats
Quiet, black
Loves to fly
Enjoys the midnight skies
Mammal