Whether you're five or 50 poetry for parents is a gift that can't go wrong. Our example uses Mother's Day, but fathers like to get poems too! You may be a poet... and don't even know it.

What you'll need:

How to make it:

You could write your mother an original poem for Mother's Day! There are many different kinds of poetry. Two kinds that are easy and that most kids like to write are haiku and limericks.

A haiku is a form of poetry adapted from a type of traditional Japanese poetry. The traditional form of the haiku had three basic rules.

The first rule is that the first and third lines have five syllables (parts of words that "make your chin drop" when you say them) and the second line has seven syllables.

The second rule is that the poem should in some way tell about the season in which the poem takes place. It doesn't have
to come out and say the season; it can just hint at it.

The third rule is that either the first or second line should have a "pause" placed there to cause the reader to stop and think for a moment about the subject.

Here are two different ideas, one about summer and one about a mother. Try writing one for your mom!

A day for mother

to let her know how I feel -

she helps me to grow.

Sticky, sandy, hot

the water thunders and flows

over my big feet.

Limericks are always a favorite with kids because they are supposed to be funny!

There are five lines. The first, second, and fifth line rhyme with each other and the third and fourth lines rhyme with
each other. Most begin with "There once was a . . . " Try one of these to make your mom laugh!

There once was a mom that I knew,

She lived with a dad in a shoe.

She washed all her kids' faces

And wrapped them with laces

To keep them safe when the wind blew.

There once was a wonderful mother,

She gave me a sister and brother.

Though sometimes we fight

It ends up all right

'Cause she is a mom like no other.

There once were a mom and a dad,

They loved me even when I was bad.

If sometimes I did wrong,

They weren't mad for long

They're the best parents I ever had.

Tips:

To make these extra special, draw a picture to go with your poems. Your mom will love your creativity! You can also write your poem in one of our Mother's Day cards or, if it's for your dad, in one of our Father's Day cards.