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Sample Cinquain Worksheet
Reading Comprehension Worksheets
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Cinquain By Brenda B. Covert

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¹     American poet Adelaide Crapsey created the cinquain[sing-KANE]-based on the Japanese haiku- around one hundred years ago. She was single, and her poetry wasn't published until after her death. Much of her poetry pertains to death. Her preoccupation probably had much to do with the disease that eventually killed her at age 37. A famous American poet named Carl Sandburg wrote a cinquain in her honor, ensuring that we would remember her poetic efforts.
 
²     This form of poetry is written using a pattern rather than rhyme and rhythm. "Cinq" [pronounced SINK] is French for the number 5. A cinquain, then, is a poem of five lines! Each line follows a specific pattern.

Line 1-  one word title Line 2-  two words that describe the subject of the title Line 3-  three action words related to the subject (think verbs) Line 4-  4 or 5 words that express your feelings about the subject (Not a complete sentence) Line 5-  the same word as in Line 1, a synonym, or a similar word.

 
³     This is easy! To write a cinquain, all you have to do is remember these numbers:

1

2

3

4-5

1

 
⁴     Here is an example of a cinquain. Note that the first and last lines are the same thing; the last line is specific, where the first line was general.

Tree
Sturdy, Tall
Climbing, swinging, playing
Fun among the branches
Maple
 
⁵     Here is another cinquain. As you read it, do you see the animal in your mind's eye?

Cat
Black, stealthy
Crouching, watching, waiting
Must you hunt small animals?
Feline

Paragraphs 6 to 13:
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