Poetry and Creative Writing for All

Cinquain

Formed by American poet Adelaide Crapsey around 1909-1910, cinquains are a form of English haiku.

Its form is twenty-two syllables over five lines distributed 2,4,6,8,2. The first line will be used to name the subject; line two will describe this subject; the third line will be three action words; line four is a phrase describing the subject, though not in a complete sentence; finally the fifth line will sum up the poem with some impact.

Below is an example of one of Crapsey’s wider known cinquains.

Triad

These be (2)

Three silent things; (4)

The falling snow . . . the hour (6)

Before the dawn . . . the mouth of one (8)

Just dead. (2)

Submission Guidelines: The address to send your cinquain(s) to is: Cinquain, Forward Press Ltd, Remus House, Woodston, Peterborough PE2 9JX
Please remember to write your name and address on each piece of work you send.

Alternatively, you can email us your poems: inbox@forwardpress.co.uk (Please include your name and postal address.)

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