Writing poetry is a journey of self-discovery and linguistic exploration. For my class project, I decided to write a series of poems, primarily focusing on the Cinquain and the Haiku. I chose the Cinquain because I am an amateur in poetry, and its fixed five-line format provides a helpful structure while allowing for creative language. My topic was 'The First Snow', inspired by the delicate and quiet atmosphere of a winter morning. In my cinquain, I focused on imagery rather than rhyming words, using metaphors to compare the snow to a white blanket covering the world's sorrows. Following this, I attempted a Haiku. Knowing that a haiku must consist of exactly 17 syllables, I carefully counted each sound to ensure it fit the traditional Japanese format. My haiku was about a butterfly on a flower branch, an image I saw in our textbook. I found that the challenge of haiku lies in its brevity; you must be very selective with your words. Throughout this process, I also reflected on the works of great poets like Robert Frost and Su Shi. Their ability to capture complex emotions in simple verses inspired me to polish my own work. Finally, I arranged my poems on a parchment-style background to give them a literary feel before presenting my report to the class. This experience taught me that poetry is not just about rhymes; it is about finding the rhythm in our everyday lives.

What kind of poem are you going to write? I chose a cinquain.

How will you inspire yourself? I will look at photos of nature.

Will you use rhyming words? No, because cinquains focus more on images.