Is Your Poem in Shape?

Carmina Figurata or shaped stanza is a picture poem—a poem that forms a picture. In “CAROUSEL” by Jan D. Hodge, the poem forms the shape of a carousel horse. This is an illustration of positive shaping. A shaped poem can describe the object and is shaped like it.

When the poem fits around a shape it is negative shaping.This is illustrated by the poem, “THE VIEW FROM KHUFIT’S TONGUE” by Walter H. Kerr. the negative space form the shape of a mountain.

“CLIMBING THE TOWER AT PISA” by Richard Frost as you might guess forms the ape of the Tower of Pisa. The poem is read form the bottom up.

Create a simple shape with simple words until an idea takes shape. Play with the words. Don’t force the image. Have fun with it.

The following poem is an example of a shaped poem. For obvious reasons I call it “PAW PRINTS.”

Darlo Gemeinhardt writes middle grade novels. She believes that there is a story in every dog. In her spare time she takes care of 1 husband (of 40 years), 29 dogs and trains with TALLAO, K-9 SEARCH AND RESCUE. Visit her at From the dog pen.com