Concrete poetry is poetry in which the words are arranged in a way that somehow conveys the subject, theme or meaning of the poem. Concrete poetry is also referred to as visual poetry. While poems of this kind can easily be created with a pen and paper, several websites exist that can make the process even easier. These websites allow you to write poems in a number of predetermined shapes. You can even draw your own.
Step 1
Create a concrete poem using a predetermined shape. Go to the Shape Poems website (see Resources). Enter your name. Click "Select a Theme" near the bottom of the page. Select one of the four themes displayed, then pick a shape. Type in some words that remind you of the shape you are working with. Click "Continue" at the bottom of the page. Click on the image you have selected and write your poem. When you have finished, click "Continue." Click the "Zoom" button to see a bigger picture of your poem. If you're happy with the poem, click "Print" and share the poem with your friends.
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Step 2
Visit the Concrete Poetry website (see Resources). Click the "Start" button. Click the "Draw Image" button on the right side of the screen. Draw any shape you want, but remember that it should somehow relate to what your poem is going to be about. Select "Pen" for a thin line or "Brush" for a thicker line. Make it colorful by picking different colors. Once you're finished, click "Add Words" and write the poem. Type the first word in the box on the right side of the screen and click the "Add" button just below. Click the word and drag it onto your picture. Click to place the word. Repeat this process for each word of the poem until you are finished. Click the "Print" button on the bottom right of the screen when your poem is finished. Enter your name, give your poem a title and click "Print Poem."
Step 3
Go to the Educational Technology Training Center website (see Resources) and go to Instant Poetry Forms. Click "Interactive Poetry Form Finder" on the left side of the screen. Scroll down and click on the word "Shape." Select one of the predetermined shapes and fill out the form on the next page. When you're finished, click "Create My Poem Now."
Step 4
While not technically shape poems, word clouds can be fun to try. A word cloud reworks an existing sequence of words, jumbling them together and placing greater emphasis on the words that are used most often. You easily can create your own online. Go to the Wordle website. Click "Create Your Own" near the top of the page. Enter text into the box at the top of the screen. You can copy and paste larger documents for more interesting clouds. When you have finished, click the "Go" button just below the box.
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