Skip to content
Words Rhymes & Rhythm

Words Rhymes & Rhythm

Words Rhymes & Rhythm Publishers

Header Advertise
Menu
  • HOME
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CSR
    • CONTACT US
  • cọ́nscìò
  • FEATURES
    • BOOK REVIEWS
    • ESSAYS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • WRITING TIPS
  • POETRY
  • FICTION
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • NEWS
    • CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
  • PUBLISHING
    • PUBLISHING PACKAGES
    • 7 REASONS WHY
  • DOWNLOAD
  • Home
  • WRITING TIPS
  • ACROSTICS POETRY: DEFINITIONS, EXAMPLES & NOTES
WRITING TIPS

ACROSTICS POETRY: DEFINITIONS, EXAMPLES & NOTES

Kukogho Iruesiri SamsonJune 10, 2017August 3, 2020

Share

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Read Time:1 Minute, 57 Second

An acrostic poem is a type of poetry where the first, last or other letters in the poems lines spell out a particular word or phrase, which is oftentimes the title of the poem.

They are fun to write and the common type is where the first letters of each line of a poem spell out a word or phrase.

Personally, I find it useful when writing poems for friends on occasions like birthdays.

Acrostics are playful
contrivances of prose or verse
rendered so that each line
opens or closes with words in
sequence to read from
top to bottom, their
initial or final letters
constituting a word or phrase.
— Ned Halley, Dictionary of Modern English Grammar. Wordsworth, 2005

Though the typical acrostic uses the first letters of a line are used to spell the message, the words formed can appear anywhere:

  1. At the beginning of lines
  2. At the end of lines
  3. In the middle of the lines

Examples
—FEAR
Frightening
Eerie and strange
Anxiety rises
Ready to flee

— Tijjani Muhammad Musa ‘HONEY’ (first letter word)
Howsoever I may wish to come
Over to your heart for comfort
Never will I be fulfilled, until I can
Enter into your smile, upon which
Yesterday gave birth to our love today.

—POEM (internal word)
Pick uP a pen
Think of a tOpic
Be crEative
Use your iMagination

—STAR
Shines and twinkleS
In the nighT
There is a plethorA
Forever and eveR

Examples from the Greats:

— Edgar Allan Poe ‘ELIZABETH’
Elizabeth it is in vain you say
“Love not” — thou sayest it in so sweet a way:
In vain those words from thee or L. E. L.
Zantippe’s talents had enforced so well:
Ah! if that language from thy heart arise,
Breathe it less gently forth — and veil thine eyes.
Endymion, recollect, when Luna tried
To cure his love — was cured of all beside —
His folly — pride — and passion — for he died.

— John Keats ‘KEATS’
Kind sister! aye, this third name says you are;
Enchanted has it been the Lord knows where;
And may it taste to you like good old wine,
Take you to real happiness and give
Sons, daughters and a home like honied hive.

Can you try to write a poem with your name and submit as a comment here?

Written with help from:
Young Writers
Grammar.About.Com
YourDictionary.com

About Post Author

Kukogho Iruesiri Samson

KIS, author of two poetry collections, ‘WHAT CAN WORDS DO?’ and ‘I SAID THESE WORDS’, is an award-winning Nigerian writer, photographer, and media professional with experience in journalism, PR, publishing and media management. In 2016, he was listed in Nigerian Writers Awards' list of 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL NIGERIAN WRITERS UNDER 40. The same year 2016, he won the Nigerian Writer’s Award for ‘Best Poet In Nigeria 2015.’ he had also won the Orange Crush 1st Prize for Poetry in 2012. He is the CEO of Words Rhymes & Rhythm LTD.
kukogho.samson@gmail.com
http://brainypoet.blogspot.com.ng/

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • More
  • Telegram
  • Tumblr
  • Print

Related

Post navigation

Previous

Previous post:

NWACHINEMERE: THE FLUTIST by Maxwell Onyemaechi Opia-Enwemuche

Next

Next post:

BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2017: RACHEL IGE IS MAY WINNER

Previous post NWACHINEMERE: THE FLUTIST by Maxwell Onyemaechi Opia-Enwemuche
Next post BRIGITTE POIRSON POETRY CONTEST 2017: RACHEL IGE IS MAY WINNER

Say something about this post Cancel reply

Icon

CỌ́N-SCÌÒ MAGAZINE: ‘PACESETTERS’ [ISSUE 2, VOL. 2 | OCTOBER 2022]

1 file(s) 10.11 MB
Download
Close
Menu
  • HOME
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CSR
    • CONTACT US
  • cọ́nscìò
  • FEATURES
    • BOOK REVIEWS
    • ESSAYS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • WRITING TIPS
  • POETRY
  • FICTION
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • NEWS
    • CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
  • PUBLISHING
    • PUBLISHING PACKAGES
    • 7 REASONS WHY
  • DOWNLOAD
Social profiles
  • HOME
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CSR
    • CONTACT US
  • cọ́nscìò
  • FEATURES
    • BOOK REVIEWS
    • ESSAYS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • WRITING TIPS
  • POETRY
  • FICTION
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • NEWS
    • CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
  • PUBLISHING
    • PUBLISHING PACKAGES
    • 7 REASONS WHY
  • DOWNLOAD

ABOUT US

Words Rhymes & Rhythm Ltd. (RC 1234112), is a foremost publishing and educational institution that supports and promotes Nigerian writers and writings talents through several initiatives like contests, prizes, and an annual literary festival. Our publishing susbsidiary is AUTHORPEDIA.

CONTRIBUTE

QUICK LINKS

  • CỌ́NSCÌÒ
  • CONTACT US
  • DOWNLOADS
  • PUBLISHING
  • SUBMIT TO WRR
  • SERVICES
  • HOME
    • ABOUT US
    • OUR CSR
    • CONTACT US
  • cọ́nscìò
  • FEATURES
    • BOOK REVIEWS
    • ESSAYS
    • INTERVIEWS
    • WRITING TIPS
  • POETRY
  • FICTION
  • SUBMISSIONS
  • NEWS
    • CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
  • PUBLISHING
    • PUBLISHING PACKAGES
    • 7 REASONS WHY
  • DOWNLOAD
Copyright Words Rhymes Rhythm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.