Acrostic

Type: Structure, other requirement

Description: The acrostic is a special requirement poem. The first letter of each line spells out a word, name or phrase.

Schematic:

L1xxx…
L2xxx…
L3xxx… and so on


Line Length: There is no standard line length.

Poem Length: As long as the word, phrase or message.

Example:

An Acrostic
by Edgar Allan Poe

Elizabeth it is in vain you say
"Love not" — thou sayest it in so sweet a way:
In vain those words from thee or L.E.L.
Zantippe's talents had enforced so well:
Ah! if that language from thy heart arise,
Breath it less gently forth — and veil thine eyes.
Endymion, recollect, when Luna tried
To cure his love — was cured of all beside —
His follie — pride — and passion — for he died.

© Jem Farmer 2008, all rights reserved.