Since 2022, Do The Write Thing of DC has offered an afterschool poetry club at Frank Ballou High School in Washington DC. This year we are glad to be back at Ballou working with new and veteran student participants. Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming Open MIC/Poetry performances throughout January and February in room 3515.
In the meanwhile, you can meet our current student poets below and check out some of their original poems using their own poem template:
Jimyrah Simmons, 16, grade 11
Malaysia Lewis, 17, grade 11
Maximus Carter, 17, grade 11
Promise Parraway, 16, grade 11
Original Poem Templates by Ballou HS Poetry Club (2024-25)
A poem template is a pre-structured poem style that allows anyone to write a poem the same way each time, as long as they know the structure. For example, you may be familiar with the Japanese poem template, Haiku. Haiku poems always have three lines and 17 syllables and can be about any subject. The first line has 5 syllables, the second line has 7 syllables, and the third line has 5 syllables.
Example: Haiku poem about “Apples” (Fruit with seeds inside / Great for juice and baking pies / Crunch when you bite them)
You can also use one of the original templates here, by DTWT’s 2024-25 student poets at Ballou High School:
PROMISE PARRAWAY
“Flower Flow” Poem Template
| Description: Use this template to write a poem about the evolution/growth of something, as in the growth of a flower. |
| Pattern: A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H (*rhyming not necessary) |
| Stanza breakdown: 4 stanzas, 2 lines per stanza, 8 lines total - AB (seed stage) / CD (stem stage) / EF (plant stage) / GH (flower stage) |
A Flower Flow for IDENTITY
(A) I was taught to cover up
(B) Taught that my skin was something that wasn’t meant to see the sky
(C) Battered lips would quiver
(D) My eyes would reflect broken cries
(E) Then I grew older
(F) Suddenly it was tie-dye crop tops and shorts up high
(G) Yet I always insisted on covering up
(H) Somehow, she could never find out why
MAXIMUS CARTER
“Waterfall” Poem Template
| Description: Use this templated to write a poem about not fitting in, adapting, and then overcoming/fitting in. |
| Pattern: A-B-C-D-E-F (*rhyming not necessary) |
| Stanza breakdown: A-B: Not fitting in / C-D: trying to fit in/adapt / E-F: Fitting in |
A Waterfall for FREEDOM
(A) People are a liability and can be exploited
(B) I like being an island
(C) Surrounded by sharks, snakes, eels, maybe even clown fish
(D) I try to understand the emotional morse codes people portray
(E) Sometimes you will never know who to trust, where to go, what to do, or how
(F) I like being on an island, for freedom, but mostly, for peace
MALAYSIA LEWIS
“My Way” Poem Template
| Description: Use this template to write a free verse poem in 6 lines with some rhyming elements. |
| Pattern: A-A-B-C-C-D (*rhyming necessary) |
| Stanza breakdown: 6 Lines - Lines1 & 2 (AA) rhyme / Lines 4 & 5 (CC) rhyme |
My Way for FOCUS
(A) Focus is the key we hold
(A) A steady mind, a heart so bold
(B) It sharpens vision, clears the way
(C) With patience we will find our pace
(C) And conquer all that we must face
(D) Guiding us through night and day
Jimyrah Simmons
"Lunar Lines"
Description: Use this template to write a poem about the dual nature or two sides of an issue, as in two sides of the moon: a dark, unseen side; a light, visible side.
Pattern: A-A-B-B-C-C-D-D (*rhyming necessary)
Stanza Breakdown: AA-BB (the light visible side) / CC-DD (the dark, unseen side)
Lunar Lines for LOVE
(A) A wonderful couple is what they see
(A) A wonderful couple is what we will be
(B) Laid up chilling ready to risk it all
(B) I will not let this relationship ever fall
(C) Smiling in public just for the distract
(C) But in private, is where my heartache attacks
(D) Fussing and fighting about every little thing
(D) So, I’m not surprised that I didn’t keep the ring
