A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Write a 🎃 Halloween Haiku 🎃 & Get the Kids Writing Too!

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Write a Halloween Haiku & Get the Kids Writing Too!

BLACK CAT, A Halloween Haiku (inspired by Midnight, our fabulous furry feline). ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author

Meet Midnight—The fabulous furry feline who inspired me to write BLACK CAT, a 🎃Halloween haiku🎃 (Haiku: a Japanese-inspired three-line: 5-7-5 syllable poetry form).

Midnight’s grooming table is decked out for each season or holiday and she loves it. I designed this year’s poster using a photo I took of Midnight resting on her grooming table here at the farmstead in central Maine. She’s a kitty who loves to hunt for spiders (one of her favorite treats). After taking the photo and writing the haiku, I added text plus spider and web graphics, then added a frame to make a poster. Kids of all ages enjoy writing and  illustrating their own poetry. It makes a great family activity too. 

What’s inspiring you this Halloween?
Brainstorm your list and get writing.
🎃Have fun—don’t forget to get the kids writing too!

Here are some writer’s tricks (literary devices found in every writer’s toolbox) I used to create BLACK CAT. These tools can set a mood— they make writing and reading memorable and fun.  Check them out and see if you can discover where I used them in my poem.

Read on to find out more about these literary devices.

BLACK CAT (haiku) by Bette A. Stevens

Black cat waits, watches…
Stalking tricksters in their web.
Spiders are her treats!

Three Writer’s Tricks (Literary devices used in writing poetry and prose)

Assonance
Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Consonance
Another literary device used by writers and poets is consonance. It is the repetition of the final consonant sounds, usually in the more important words or in the accented syllables.

Alliteration
You put your alliteration tool to work when words that start with the same sound are used close together in a phrase or sentence. The sound is usually a consonant and the words don’t have to always be right next to one another.

Finding “just the right words”
Abundant resources are available in print as well as through online searches. Listed below are the two resources I had readily available in the classroom for my students (Grades 4-8). Paperbacks are inexpensive enough to have multiple copies available, and in my opinion, they are indispensable.

  • The Scholastic Rhyming Dictionary by Sue Young
  • Webster’s Thesaurus for Students by Merriam-Webster

                        🎃 Happy Writing and Reading Haiku

                                    & Happy Halloween 🎃

                     ~ Bette A. Stevens, Maine author/illustrator

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Written

on 10/22/2018

Comments on: "Write a 🎃 Halloween Haiku 🎃 & Get the Kids Writing Too!" (48)

  1. Joan Hall said:
    10/17/2021 at 3:21 pm

    That cat gets high marks in my book. (I hate spiders!) 🙂 Really cute Haiku, Bette.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Norah said:
    10/30/2018 at 8:17 am

    I always love to get children writing, Bette, and haiku is a great way of doing that.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. AuthorJoePerroneJr said:
    10/27/2018 at 1:47 pm

    Dark skies filled with clouds,
    Ghosts and goblins slip and slide,
    Trick or treat—Surprise!

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Jacqui Murray said:
    10/27/2018 at 10:23 am

    I love the haiku and adding the poster behind it–perfect. Plus, knowing the kitty character behind it makes it even more special.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Christine Shannon -Author said:
    10/26/2018 at 6:50 am

    Love this! Thank you for sharing your poetry tips. I have something in mind to use these. Big hugs to you and wishing you all the best on your upcoming works whatever it may be.

    Christine M. Shannon

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/26/2018 at 8:35 pm

      Thanks so much for your thoughtful note, Christine. I’m currently working on my first poetry book–MY MAINE, Haiku through the seasons. ❤ Sending you hugs and wishes for the best in all things big and small. Happy October! xo

      Like

  6. Molly Stevens - Shallow Reflections said:
    10/25/2018 at 6:15 am

    Drew some vampires with my 4 yo grandson this week. Next week I’ll have to work with him on some rhyming! Love your photo and haiku, Bette.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Christy B said:
    10/24/2018 at 12:57 pm

    I love the Black Cat haiku, Bette! Great writing ideas for adults and kids alike 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Sue Dreamwalker said:
    10/23/2018 at 1:17 pm

    Lovely Haiku Bette.. And its wonderful to inspire children to get into writing and poetry. 😀 wishing you a beautiful day 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Annette Rochelle Aben said:
    10/23/2018 at 10:18 am

    This is darling! I can see why you love teaching children.. you put love into everything you write. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/23/2018 at 6:49 pm

      Thank you so much for your beautiful comment, Annette… ❤ Sending smiles, love and hugs to you today and every day! 🧡🕷🎃🍂 xx

      Like

  10. Natalie Ducey said:
    10/23/2018 at 9:57 am

    Thanks so much for sharing this lovely poem and resources, Bette. Very much appreciated. Wishing you a beautiful day! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

  11. -Eugenia said:
    10/23/2018 at 9:14 am

    Reblogged this on BrewNSpew.

    Like

  12. -Eugenia said:
    10/23/2018 at 9:14 am

    Love your Halloween haiku, Bette! Sharing xo

    Liked by 1 person

  13. Annika Perry said:
    10/23/2018 at 3:59 am

    Wonderfully atmospheric image and haiku, Bette! Midnight looks so relaxed and I’m smiling at how spiders are a treat! Does Midnight want to come over for a visit … we have some big spiders that prefer indoors to out! You give some great tips for image creation and poetry … and I learnt something new! 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  14. macjam47 said:
    10/23/2018 at 12:25 am

    Your poster and haiku are wonderful! A great Halloween treat for your kitty. 🤗❤️

    Liked by 1 person

  15. Rosepoint Publishing said:
    10/22/2018 at 10:03 pm

    That’s a lovely haiku, and perfect. Not sure, however, something I could do…

    Liked by 1 person

  16. sjhigbee said:
    10/22/2018 at 5:48 pm

    I love this haiku:)) What a lovely idea.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Jill Weatherholt said:
    10/22/2018 at 5:21 pm

    I love your meme and the haiku, Bette. I don’t think I’m that clever to write one. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/22/2018 at 8:47 pm

      Thank you, Jill. ❤ I love writing haiku and my students (grades 5-8) enjoyed writing it too. It's challenging, fun and easy… Just pick a subject you're passionate about. In BLACK CAT, the passion was kitty Midnight! Try it–I think you'll like it! 🕷🎃🧡

      Liked by 1 person

  18. Mae Clair said:
    10/22/2018 at 3:23 pm

    I adore the photo of Midnight, Bette. What a perfect Haiku for your gorgeous black feline. Raven goes after any bug that moves. I need to experiment with a haiku one of these days. I’ve never tried, but the way you present them is so creative, it makes me want to try!

    Liked by 1 person

  19. D.L Finn, Author said:
    10/22/2018 at 1:09 pm

    Love the fun Haiku about Midnight Bette:) I’m a fan of alliteration. Beautiful picture and kitty. My big (almost 20 pounds) black kitty is named Coco. The only things he has caught have ended up still alive and needing rescue. Another cat we have keeps up on the spider snacks.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/22/2018 at 4:30 pm

      Thanks, Denise. Our kitties are so much fun… Midnight (8 pounds of love) is 13 this year and still quite a mouser, but spiders really are her treats and I’m glad she keeps them at bay. Wishing you and yours (kitties included) an awesome autumn! 🕷🎃🧡 xoxoxo

      Like

  20. robbiesinspiration said:
    10/22/2018 at 1:03 pm

    I really enjoyed your haiku, Bette, and trying to spot the writing tricks you used in it.

    Liked by 1 person

  21. D. Wallace Peach said:
    10/22/2018 at 12:15 pm

    Wonderful idea, Bette. I’m going to have to try this is Tornado Boy. We did a couple rhyming poems, now we can try count syllables too. 🙂 Happy Halloween!

    Liked by 1 person

  22. balroop2013 said:
    10/22/2018 at 11:57 am

    Your poster and delightful haiku is a perfect setting for a pleasant halloween, Bette. Thanks for the inspiration. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/22/2018 at 2:57 pm

      Thank you, Balroop. 🙂 Midnight loves those delectable spiders like our little guests love their candy treats. Have lots of October fun with your little ones… 🎃🧡 xo

      Like

  23. Billy Ray Chitwood said:
    10/22/2018 at 11:00 am

    Ooo, Aahh, Frighten Me!
    And back bite I will to thee!
    Ouch, crouch, get away!

    Liked by 1 person

  24. DutchIl said:
    10/22/2018 at 10:16 am

    “The art of writing is the art of discovering what you believe.” Gustave Flaubert

    Like

    • Bette A. Stevens said:
      10/22/2018 at 8:57 pm

      Wonderful quote, Larry! Hard to believe the month of October will soon be coming to a close. Midnight and I are looking forward to greeting our young “Trick or Treat” guests soon… 🕷🎃🧡

      Like

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