As you may have guessed from the domain name, my name is Rhonda Parrish. I am a writer and this is my blog.In honor of National Poetry Month, let’s do a poetry form, shall we? This week we’ll explore the Cinquain. This poetry form can either be very simple or quite complex depending upon how traditional you want to be.
The modified (and thus simpler) form of a cinquain is as follows:
Line 1: 1 Word, a noun, the subject of the poem
Line 2: 2 Words, adjectives that describe the noun in line 1
Line 3: 3 Words, verbs that describe line 1
Line 4: 4 Words, that describe feelings in relation to line 1
Line 5: 1 Word, a synonym of line 1, or a word that sums it up
A true cinquain also incorporates syllable counts as follows:
Line 1: 2 syllables
Line 2: 4 syllables
Line 3: 6 syllables
Line 4: 8 syllables
Line 5: 2 syllables
And if you are a true purest you will write your cinquain in iambs (that is with the first syllable unstressed and the second stressed — de DA de DA — she CAME one DARK and STORmy NIGHT) except that the last line will have two stressed syllables. I will use x to denote unstressed syllables and / to show stressed ones as discussed in Systems of Scansion
Putting it all together, the strictest form of cinquain would look like this:
Line 1: 1 word title (noun) — 2 syllables [x / ]
Line 2: 2 descriptive words (adjectives) — 4 syllables [x / x /]
Line 3: 3 words that express action — 6 syllables [x / x / x /]
Line 4: 4 words that express feeling — 8 syllables [x / x / x / x /]
Line 5: 1 word (synonyms or reference to title in line 1) — 2 syllables [/ /]
Challenge
This week I challenge you to write a cinquain using any of the forms discussed above. Your poem can be about anything, but if you’re stuck for a subject why not go with ‘NaNo’ 
More Cinquain Resources and Examples:
John Hewitt’s Intro to the Cinquain with Examples –> http://www.poewar.com/archives/2004/10/24/poetry-in-forms-series-cinquain/
Examples of Contemparary Cinquains –> http://www.ahapoetry.com/cinqhmpg.htm
Cinquain Lessons for Grades 3-6 –> http://www.readinga-z.com/poetry/lesson_plans/cinquain/cinquain_print.html
The History of the Cinquain –> http://www.cinquain.org/
Cinquain Markets
Skyline Literary Magazines
SHINE!
Adventures For The Average Woman
Amaze! The Cinquain Journal
The Arabesques Review
Aoife’s Kiss
SubtleTea
Rumble (also a Flash Fiction Publisher)
Flutter Poetry Journal
Static Movement
And of course, there are many more markets waiting for your perusal at Duotrope’s Digest