Lesson Topic 4: The Cinquain Synopsis

What is a Cinquain?

A cinquain is a short poem consisting of five, usually unrhymed lines containing, respectively, two, four, six, eight, and two syllables. The formula for a cinquain is as follows:

Line 1 - a one-word title (or two syllables)
Line 2 - a two-word phrase that describes your title, or you can just use two words (or four syllables)
Line 3 - a three-word phrase that describes an action relating to your title or just action words (or six syllables)
Line 4 - a four-word phrase that describes a feeling relating to your topic or just feeling words (or eight syllables)
Line 5 - one word that refers back to your title (or two syllables)

Examples

Night Winds by Adelaide Crapsey

The old

Old winds that blew

When chaos was, what do

They tell the clattered trees that I

Should weep?

Snow by Adelaide Crapsey

Look up

From bleakening hills

Blows down the light, first breath

Of wintry windlook up, and scent

The snow!

Cinquain Practice

Count the syllables of the cinquains above. Notice how the structure matches the set-up of a cinquain poem.

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