Poetry In Review - A Look At Adelaide Crapsey

Adelaide Crapsey (September 9, 1878 – October 8, 1914) was an American poet who was born in Brooklyn, New York. As one of the first Imagist Poet she is noted for the creation of the American Cinquain, a five line poem of 22 syllables, inspired by the Japanese Haiku and Tanka.

Her life was cut short at the age of 36 when she passed away from tuberculosis. In the years before her death she wrote most of her verses in which made her famous. She also formulated the epigram into a new form of couplet, as seen in her poem “On Seeing Weather-Beaten Trees”.

Here are examples of Adelaide Crapsey’s Poems:

NIGHT WINDS by: Adelaide Crapsey (1878-1914)

The old

Old winds that blew

When chaos was, what do

They tell the clattered trees that I

Should weep?

NOVEMBER NIGHT by: Adelaide Crapsey (1878-1914)

LISTEN . . .

With faint dry sound,

Like steps of passing ghosts,

The leaves, frost-crisp'd, break from the trees

And fall.

To learn how to write your own Cinquain Poem click here.

To read a collection of my Cinquain poems click here.