Last week in the Rhyming Picture Book Poetic Forms Series, we looked at double-dactyls. This week we’ll be looking at counting poems.
What is it?
A counting poem does what it says on the tin – the writer counts, but not in a dry and linear mathematical way, mind you! In counting poems, you get to decide which way to count. From one to ten or from ten to one? In even numbers or odd? Up to twenty and then back the other way, just for fun? It’s your call.
Counting poems don’t have to rhyme, but they can’t simply list numbers either. A counting poem needs a raison d’être, a purpose. The great thing about counting poems is that you can either write your entire story as one in an original storytelling narrative, or you can slip one into your existing manuscript for fun.
Here’s a counting poem to show you what I mean:
One, two, now up to you!
Next week in Rhyming Picture Book Poetic Forms, we’ll be looking at how-to poems.
Jama is hosting Poetry Friday this week at Jama’s Alphabet Soup
Fun post, Lou. Love the foodie sample poem you shared! 🙂
It’s silly, but was fun to write. I’m a fan of counting poems because there’s not a whole lot that rhymes with six and I love a challenge!
I so agree with your raison d’être (though I wouldn’t have known it meant purpose if you hadn’t told me). Your poem is catchy-clever – and made me a little squeamish! Pretty sure that means kids will love it. 🙂
I admit I hesitated with the vomit, but then thought, “Nah, the yuckier, the better, kids love that.” Oh, what it was to be a kid…