Historically, it referred to any stanza of five lines written in any type of verse. More recently, cinquain has come to refer to particular types of five-line poems that have precisely defined features, such as their meter or the number of syllables they contain in each line.
Cinquain Definition: What is a Cinquain Poem? A cinquain, from the French “cinq” for “five”, is a five-line stanza in poetry. When this one stanza sits alone as an entire poem, or when a poem is constructed (with specific rules) through five-line stanzas, it then becomes a cinquain poem.
What is a Cinquain? A cinquain – which, by the way, is pronounced “sin-cane,” not “sin-kwane” – is a form of poetry that is very popular because of its simplicity. It was created by American poet Adelaide Crapsey about 100 years ago, and is similar to Japanese poetic forms, such as haiku and tanka.
A cinquain is a poetic form that makes use of a pattern of five lines. E.g. The cinquain structure of five lines and a specific syllable pattern allows poets to craft concise and evocative verses, often capturing fleeting moments or emotions in a succinct yet impactful manner.
There is actually more than one way to define what a cinquain actually is, but the broadest definition is that a cinquain is any five-line poem. That’s it: a poem composed of five lines.
Historically, the cinquain was a five-line stanza in medieval French poetry, though the modern version has taken on a life of its own. Today, the cinquain is appreciated for its elegance and versatility across both creative and educational contexts.
Cinquains are five-line poems. In the United States, the word “cinquain” typically refers to a poetic form developed by the nineteenth-century poet Adelaide Crapsey. Learn more about the form and structure of cinquains along with how to write a cinquain poem.
A cinquain (pronounced sing-kayn) poem consists of 5 lines of fixed syllables and 1 topic. Its invention is often attributed to the early 20th-century American poet Adelaide Crapsey.
What is a Cinquain Poem? A cinquain poem is a poetic form consisting of a five-line stanza in poetry, known for its specific syllable count of 2, 4, 6, 8, and 2. This structure ensures a rhythmic flow and allows the poem to build up to a peak before concluding succinctly.
That is why we are going to discuss a definition of the cinquain, how it differs from the quintain, what it can be used for in poetry, some of the different types of cinquainpoems, and a handful of examples of cinquainpoetry.
A cinquain (pronounced sing-kayn) poem consists of 5 lines of fixed syllables and 1 topic. Its invention is often attributed to the early 20th-century American poet Adelaide Crapsey.