Quatrain Poetry celebrates the number four. It is easy and fun to write. A Quatrain poem is a four-line poem that rhymes.
There are four ways to organise a Quatrain rhyming scheme.
- a/b/a/b/ rhyming scheme
- a/a/b/b/ rhyming scheme
- a/a/b/a/ rhyming scheme
- a/b/c/b/ rhyming scheme
Example 1. Using the information that cat feet are neat and round. They need less energy to lift during movement. They grip on rough terrain. They are paws for endurance, not short bursts of speed.
Cat Feet: Rhyming scheme: a/b/a/b/ Four lines
Not for speed, not for the race
Not for the swift or fleet
Steady the rhythm, steady the pace
Arched and round cat feet.
Example 2. Using the information that hare feet require more energy for locomotion, but are designed for speed. The two centre toes are longer than the outside toes and the toes arch less. Designed for running with short, high bursts of speed.
Hare Feet: Rhyming scheme: a/a/b/b/ Four lines
Two centre toes, long and strong
Grip the ground, speed me along
Race with me if you dare
Mine is the fleet foot of the hare.
Example 3. Using information that webbed feet are for swimming to retrieve birds or drag fishing nets ashore. The toes are connected by membrane similar to that of a frog to assist with locomotion in water.
Webbed Feet: Rhyming Scheme: a/a/b/a/ Four lines.
Bred to swim, bred to achieve
Webbed feet through the water cleave
Downed birds and fishing nets I carry
My goal in life is to retrieve.
Australian Children’s Poetry 