What is a diamante?
A diamond-shaped, seven-line poem.
Sparkling Poetry: Discovering the Dazzling Diamante
A Diamante is a seven-lined poem that takes on a diamond shape, hence its dazzling name. Invented in the 1960s by Kansas poet, Iris Tiedt, the poem follows a specific structure of synonyms, antonyms, and/or gerunds to take the reader from one opposite or concept to another.
The first line of a Diamante is a noun relating to the subject matter, followed by two adjectives connected to this noun. The third line consists of three gerunds (words ending in -ing), which stand as verbs in the poem. Forth comes two adjectives related to the noun which the poem is shifting to. In the fifth line, the Diamante shifts to a new subject matter, leading with three opposite words. The sixth line revolves around two adjectives describing the new noun. The poem closes with the seventh line, which brings the reader back to a single-word noun typically different from the initial one.
A Diamante’s structure affects the poem’s rhythm and message, allowing the writer to experiment with combinations of words and meaning. Language, etymology, and grammar can all play a role in crafting these sparkling works of art, manipulating words to create a poetic diamond for the reader.
From poetry books to the classroom, the Diamante has become a popular form of creative self-expression. Here are two examples of how the Diamante has been used in literature!
A calm, blue sea
Noisy, rumbling waves, ocean
Crashing, Swirling, Singing
Sunlit, Wavy
Sandy, Breezy
Windblown, Saltwater
Breeze
In this diamante poem written by Joan Bransfield Graham, the contrast between the calm sea and its noisy waves leads into a shift in focus to the sandy, breezy shore, ultimately concluding with the word 'breeze.' Graham manipulates language, shifting from physical to abstract nouns, playing with sound and creating a meditative effect on the reader.
Learning
Teaching, Appraising, Educating
Curiosity, Inspiration, Understanding, Patience
Observing, Structuring, Improving
Creative, Challenging
Planning, Diagramming
Teaching
As a form of creative writing, diamante poems can be used to promote language learning and inspire student writing. With its straightforward structure and versatility, the diamante can be used to explore different themes and topics, providing a fun and engaging way to practice grammar, language, and poetic skills in the classroom.