Les Coccinelles | Poetry Day
I organized a little morning soiree for the newly formed poetry salon called Les Coccinelles (“The Ladybugs” in French).
Chez Ronald hosted our Poetry Day where we donned our poet berets. We brunched on faux croissants with strawberry jam under the shadow of the pretend Eiffel Tower, and played a word rhyming game.
Then, for the real fun! I introduced my two little poets to the art of cinquain just as I did almost forty years ago with my daughters. I think their first attempts (with liberties to the form) are just lovely. Such thoughtful focus went into their poems. The highlight for me was the word “kindful.” So fancy. Here’s the first poems from Les Coccinelles.
MOM
FUNNY, PRETTY
SILLY-DANCER, CUDDLES, HELPFUL
SHE MAKES ME HAPPY
KINDFUL
by Lilly
KALLIE
NAUGHTY, NICE
PAINTING, DRAWING, COLORING
SWEET, HAPPY, LOVING, GREAT
SISTER
by Presley
Cinquain is a great structure for new poets. I truly love these little poems. They remind me of Haiku or Tanka forms.
I put together a helpful worksheet for the kids that explains how to construct a cinquain. Here is a link if you’d like a copy. And here’s a little more information for you about this sweet simple poetry.
I hope you, your children, or grandchildren try writing a chinquain. Send it to Miss Ladybug and she will read it to all the ladybugs.