I recently came across a form of poetry that I am ashamed to say I had never heard of, even in all of those English classes I took in college. A “cinquain,” I learned, is a simple verse that contains five lines, but each line has a specific job to fill.

For example, the following are cinquains:

“Baby Boomer on a Good Day”

Boomer
Youth Fountain
Energetic, fun, giddy
Taking on all comers
Lollapalooza

“Baby Boomer on a Bad Day” (not that we know any of these)

Boomer
Mid-Age
Achy, breaky, tired
Older by the Minute
Boomless

Here’s one for Mr. Ford, of Indiana Jones fame:

Harrison
Movie Star
Handsome, Rich, Rugged
Dating a younger woman
Indiana

Or you can try one for your brother-in-law or that woman you work with who sucks her teeth all the time.

Here are the guidelines:

First line: Single title (a noun)
Second line: A two-word phrase that’s related to the subject
Third line: Three adjectives that describe the subject
Fourth line: A four-word phrase related to the subject
Fifth line: A one-word synonym for the title

The cinquain for your brother-in-law it could go something like this:

Harold
Couch potato
Lazy, idle, sluggish
Stops by a LOT
Loser

Or the lady at work:

Edith
Tooth sucker
Annoying, irritating, bothersome
Incentive for early retirement
Nemesis

If you are so inclined, go ahead and try your hand at this form of poetry. It’s simple and says a lot in very few words, something we could all learn a lesson from!

By Teresa K. Flatley
www.boomthis.com