Create a Kenning poem
What is a Kenning poem?
A kenning poem is a special type of poem that describes an object or a creature without ever using its name. The poem is made up of a list of four descriptions and each description has only two words. Here’s are examples – can you guess what they are? Slide the panel to the right to show what the object is.
Make your own Kenning poem
STEP 1
You will need paper and a pen or pencil
STEP 2
Search pit ponies on the internet. Write down all the words you can find that describe pit ponies. What new words have you found?
STEP 3
You can make a mindmap with your words and phrases. Here is an example of one I made for ‘the sun’.
STEP 4
Now make your own poem and remember:
Four lines
Two words in a line
Don’t use the words ‘pit ponies’.
Create a poem game
Here are more examples of pit pony poems. Which one do you prefer? Why?
Pit pony
A dusty dragger
A blind walker
A blackened soul
A coal hauler
Pit pony
A cart puller
A silent labourer
A sooty toiler
A dark shadow
Cut out some squares of card the same size. Draw your an object or a creature on one side. Create a Kenning poem for the other side. Ask family members to choose a card with the word side up and guess what is on the other side.