Writing List Poems

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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People use lists in their everyday lives, from to-do lists to bucket lists (things they want to accomplish during their life).

But did you know that you can also make poetry out of lists?

Writing poetry gives you the opportunity to express yourself in a succinct, creative way.

While there are many forms of poetry with which you can experiment, one of the best ways to begin is by writing list poetry. A list poem contains a catalogue or running list of things, people, places, or ideas that all contribute to a main theme. You can include repetition in the poem or even rhyming words; however, the form of list poems is flexible in order to allow the author to communicate his or her theme clearly.

The list should not be a random list, but one that is centered around a central theme and has been carefully compiled. Each item of the list should build up to your final line, which should be the most powerful, humorous, or emotional item on the list.

You can begin a poem with a random list, then revise it to make a beautiful poem that communicates your main idea in a unique way.

Take a look at the poem, Mother Doesn't Want a Dog, by Judith Viorst, courtesy of Poets.org.

This poem focuses on all of the negative traits of dogs. The author uses humor throughout the poem, along with the repeated phrase "Mother doesn't want a dog," to show that the speaker is a child.

In this case, the last line is meant to be funny and surprising because the child has figured out a tricky way to get a dog!