Write a poem for the next family reunion.
You do not have to be Shakespeare to write poetry that shows your family how much you care. Taking the time to produce an eloquent poem, with just the right wording, is an ultimate gift. A family reunion is a wonderful place to remember relatives that have passed on, to celebrate happy and funny times and to honor those you love. What better way to express this love, but through a poem?
Function
Include poems in the family reunion invitations that you are sending out. At the reunion, read a poem aloud that celebrates a particular family member or memorable events from the past. Include poems in a scrapbook you are creating with photographs from the family reunion. You can use poems that have already been written, but try to write your own, more personal, verses. Challenge each attendee to write a poem to read at the family reunion. Collect these poems and compile them into a book to give to each family member.
Genealogical Poem
Write a genealogical poem representing your family's lineage. Before starting, look at the guest list and organize everyone into a family tree. Number Templates offers a family tree template for assistance. Write a poem including all guests that describes relationships and generations. A free verse poem may be the easiest style to use since it does not have to rhyme and lines can vary in length. For an extra challenge, consider employing shape poetry. Draw a rough sketch of a tree and arrange poetic lines to outline and fill the tree shape. Post the poem at the entry way of the reunion site or give each attendee a copy.
Family Member
Celebrate a family member by making him the focus of a poem. Write an ode or lyric-styled poem to someone who has just graduated from college, been promoted or is celebrating a birthday. These style of poems have several verses and are full of emotion. Write a sonnet about the oldest family member's life works or to remember someone who has passed away. A sonnet traditionally has 14 lines and rhymes. One example of such a scheme is rhyming every second line, like rhyming lines one and three, two and four, and so on, up until line 13. Line 13 rhymes with line 14.
Poetry Game
Organize a game where family members test how well they know each other. Write a poetic verse about each family member, including his hobbies, vocation, family life, and quirks, but omit his name. Read each verse so guests can guess who each verse represents. Using a limerick style poem for the game will add even more humor to the occasion. A limerick has five lines. Lines one, two and five rhyme and each have nine syllables; lines three and four rhyme and each have six syllables. "There once was a man from Nantucket" is a famous limerick.
Haiku
Haikus are three-lined poems with five syllables in the first line, seven syllables in the second line and five syllables in the third line. Although they are short, they may still take time and reflection to complete. Read a haiku to kick off the family reunion, ice a cake with its words, or inscribe the poem on party favors for guests to take home. Here's a sample of a haiku:
Loved ones will rejoice
Smile, remember the past
Never say good-bye
Tags: family reunion, family member, each attendee, each family, each family member, each have, each verse