By Iris Dawn Spring, Vashon Poet Laureate
Poetry is for everyone!
Acrostic poems are a great exercise, whether seasoned poet or new to writing, and can appeal to all ages. The first letter of each line reads out a word or phrase when read vertically. They can be sweet and simple or staggeringly complex. The use of acrostics dates back thousands of years in literature, poetry, politics and religious texts.
Try it for yourself. Write your name vertically on the page, then write each line based on the letter. There are many ways to approach it.
Remember: it doesn’t have to make sense, or be grammatically correct – there are no rules in poetry. Consider: how does a title impact the poem?
Here are two examples based on the word / name RAY:
Hello, World!
R radiant robust realizing
A alive aware analyzing
Y yes! yes! yes!
Summers-end
I went for a walk
and found what I sought
R resting
A among
Y yellowed leaves.
