How to Write an Acrostic Poem
Acrostic poems are very easy to write and they are a very good type of poem to tackle when you are learning to write. This article shows you a foolproof way to write acrostic poetry, with an original example by Gale Barker – “Huddersfield”.
An acrostic poem is a poem in which the first letters of each line, read vertically, spell out a word. In this poem, the first letters of the lines spell out the name of my home town.
An Example
Huddersfield
An acrostic poem by Gale Barker
Huddersfield, a
Uniquely dramatic setting,
Dyed in the wool of industry
Dotted with Mangelwurzel *
Eccentrics, in whose
Recently extended university
Studies
Flourish.
Idyll for
Exhilarating
Literary
Dreams.
* Jake Mangelwurzel is a well-known Huddersfield eccentric.
How to Write Your Own Acrostic Poem
To write an acrostic poem of your own, begin by choosing the word that you would like to write your poem about. Write it vertically at the left hand side of the page, top down, for example:
L
O
V
E
Then use these letters to begin each line.
How Much Freedom Do You Have?
Acrostic poems are a form of constrained poetry – by making yourself begin each line with a particular letter, you are constraining or forcing yourself to write in a certain way. Even though acrostic poems don’t have to rhyme, you’re not just writing freely. You’ve got a format you have to stick to.
But each line can be as long or as short as you like. The ends of lines can rhyme or not rhyme, if you want. So you still have quite a lot of freedom to be creative.
Match Your Content to Your Word
Try to make the content of your poem relate to the word you’ve chosen and express something about it.
For example, to write a poem on the theme of love, start by thinking of lots of words connected with it, for example, Valentine, sweetheart, adoration, swoon, honey, romance etc.
Choose the word you want to use as your starting point, and write it at the left-hand side of the page, top to bottom.
Then write your poem, using these letters as the beginning of your lines.
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June 21st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
I teach a poetry unit to my third graders and acrostic poetry is always fun for kids to learn. Acrostic poems really force the witer to extend their vocabulary to fit a particular letter.
All forms of poetry by nature are more descriptive and lend themselves to more detailed writing.
July 10th, 2008 at 6:29 am
Thanks for a very informative look into the world of poetry.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:53 pm
can you please give me any acrostic poem (that’s appropriate!)for the word; service?
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:54 pm
in my last comment, I meant could you give me the poem now?! (please?!)
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:56 pm
listen, Gale Barker, I need that poem for my homework, which is due Monday! so, if you could please give me the poem, I won’t bother you anymore, until I get other acrostic poems from here too!
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:58 pm
um, Gale, do you even answer the comments on your site? Because if you don’t, then this site is the lamest thing EVER!!
October 3rd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
gale, do you own a computer, or did you make this site at a friend’s house or at whereever you work? if you did, then I’m hoping that your friend, boss or the janitor at your work is reading these comments right now and is calling you to come over there to answer my comments!!!!!!>~
October 6th, 2008 at 11:13 am
Sorry, Mak, I have been busy preparing lessons for my own creative writing students. I don’t have time to check all my comments several times a day.
Wouldn’t you learn more by trying to write an acrostic poem on SERVICE for yourself rather than asking someone else to do it for you? I’m sure you could have written several poems in the time it has taken you to shout abuse at me on this website.
If you read the article again and follow the instructions step by step, it should take you no more than ten minutes to do your homework – and you will end up with a piece of work that you can be proud of.
Good luck for your studies.
January 31st, 2011 at 3:21 pm
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