Cinquain poem: format, examples and how to write one

The cinquain (usually said SING-kayn; the name comes from the French word for five) is a small poem with a clear shape. It is short enough to finish in one sitting and strict enough to make you choose every word with care. There are two main versions: the syllable cinquain that poets write and the word-count cinquain that many elementary teachers use. This page explains both, plus the popular variations, with original examples of each.

What is a cinquain?

In its broadest sense, a cinquain is any poem or stanza of five lines. Today the word usually means a specific form invented by Adelaide Crapsey (1878-1914), an American poet and teacher. Crapsey studied Japanese haiku and tanka and wanted an English form with the same compressed, quiet power. Most of her cinquains were published in 1915, the year after her death, in a collection called Verse.

Crapsey's poems often build tension through the long fourth line and then stop sharply on the two-syllable fifth line. That sudden short ending, like a door clicking shut, is the heart of the form.

The syllable cinquain: 2-4-6-8-2

That makes 22 syllables in all. The poem does not need to rhyme. Crapsey also gave her lines a rising, iambic rhythm (da-DUM), with one, two, three, four and one stressed beats, but most modern cinquains keep only the syllable count. Here are three syllable cinquains. Count them by tapping each syllable on the desk.

The word-count cinquain (school version)

Many teachers use a version that counts words, not syllables. It is sometimes called a didactic cinquain, and it is a handy way to practice parts of speech. The pattern looks like this:

Line 2 uses adjectives, line 3 uses verbs in their -ing form, and lines 1 and 5 are nouns. Line 4 is the only line that sounds like a small sentence, and it is where the feeling lives.

How to write a cinquain

1. Pick a subject you can picture clearly: an object, an animal, a place or a single moment.
2. Brainstorm a list of describing words, actions, sounds and feelings connected to it.
3. Decide which version you are writing: syllables (2-4-6-8-2) or words (1-2-3-4-1).
4. Write line 1 as a short name or opening image.
5. Build lines 2 to 4 so that each one adds something new. Save your strongest detail for line 4.
6. Write line 5 as a short landing: a twist, a sound, a synonym or one final image.
7. Count again, out loud. Tap each syllable if you are using the syllable form.

Cinquain variations

• Reverse cinquain: one stanza of 2, 8, 6, 4 and 2 syllables, so the long line comes first.
• Mirror cinquain: a regular cinquain followed by a reverse cinquain, ten lines in all.
• Butterfly cinquain: nine lines of 2, 4, 6, 8, 2, 8, 6, 4 and 2 syllables, shaped like two wings.
• Crown cinquain: five cinquains in a row that work together as one longer poem.
• Garland cinquain: six cinquains, where the sixth is built from lines of the first five (line 1 from the first stanza, line 2 from the second and so on).

Common cinquain mistakes

• Mixing the two versions, such as counting words in one line and syllables in the next.
• Treating line 5 as an afterthought. The two-syllable ending should feel like the point of the poem.
• Padding lines with filler (very, really, so) just to hit the count.
• Forcing rhyme. Cinquains do not need to rhyme, and forced rhymes weaken them.
• Choosing a subject too big for 22 syllables, like friendship or the universe. Narrow it to one moment.
• Counting syllables by eye instead of by ear. Say every line aloud.

Teaching ideas

• Have students write a word-count cinquain first, then revise it into the syllable form.
• Pair cinquains with science or social studies: one poem about a planet, a cloud type, an animal or a landmark from the current unit.
• Use line 4 for a mini-lesson on strong verbs and specific nouns.
• Compare a cinquain with a haiku: both are short and syllable-based, but the cinquain has five lines and ends on a sharp, short line.
• Write a class crown cinquain: five groups each write one stanza about the same subject, then put them together.

If your class enjoys the word-count version, try the diamante next. It uses the same kinds of words but stretches them into a seven-line diamond that moves between two opposites.