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What Makes Poems So Special?

1. Poetry looks different.

Poems often take up little space and break lines in special places. The whole poem might even have an interesting shape, like this one:

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2. Poetry says things in special ways.

Sam’s poem uses a simile that compares Mister P. to a pumpkin. Then the poem takes the shape of a pumpkin. Each line gets fatter, just like Sam’s roly-poly cat.

3. Poetry plays with sounds.

Read Sam’s poem out loud. Listen for the repeated sounds: lounges, around, ground, town, and please, cheese, agrees, he’s. Also notice how Sam invents a word—pumpkinest. These sounds make the poem fun to hear.