What is An Acrostic Alliteration Poem - Joel Hawksley's Blog

Joel Hawksley - Poetry has always been a way to play with words and ideas and explore what language can do when given freedom. I’ve tried various forms, from traditional acrostics to free verse, and even created a few techniques. Recently, I stumbled onto an idea I call acrostic alliteration. I’m not sure if this has been done before, but it challenged me in the best ways—and the thrill of trying something new is worth sharing.

So here’s my step-by-step guide to acrostic alliteration. It combines the structure of an acrostic, where the first letters of each line spell out a word, with the added twist of alliteration and rhyme. It’s tough, but the result can be so satisfying!

Acrostic Alliteration Poetry: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Choose Your Anchor Word

Start with a word that speaks to you. This “anchor word” sets the structure and theme for your poem.

Write it vertically, with each line starting with a letter from the anchor word. This word could even be the first word of your poem—it’s flexible.

Example Anchor Words: ABSTRACT                                   ANCHOR

                                   B                                                B

                                   S                                                S

                                   T                                                T

                                   R                                                R

                                   A                                                A

                                   C                                                C

                                   T                                                T

Step 2: Build Your Poem, Line by Line

Line 1: One word starts with the first letter of your anchor word. (Sometimes, I use the anchor word itself here.)

Line 2: Add two words beginning with the second letter, with the first word rhyming with the last word of the previous line.

Using “ABSTRACT,” this line could become “BACKED BROADBAND.”
Line 3: For the third letter, add three words that start with it, and the first word rhymes with the last word of Line 2.

If “BROADBAND” finished Line 2, Line 3 could be “SAND SISTER SOMEONE.”
Keep going like this, expanding each line with an extra word for every letter in the anchor word.

The last line is only one word that you can rhyme to the first word (preferred) or the last word of the previous line. Either of these two options is available.

Here’s an example using “ABSTRACT” as the anchor:

Example: "ABSTRACT"

ABSTRACT TECHNOLOGY

Abstract
Backed broadband
Sand sister someone
Ton tech takes time
Rhyme ride radical RAM racing
Aging anticipation against Apple’s accelerating access
Checks cache children choosing chocolate chips
Tact

OR

Abstract
Backed broadband
Sand sister someone
Ton tech takes time
Rhyme ride radical RAM racing
Aging anticipation against Apple’s accelerating access
Checks cache children choosing chocolate chips
Tips

Reflections on the Process

This technique isn’t for everyone, but I recommend it if you want to challenge yourself creatively. There’s something exciting about breaking rules and making new ones as you go.

If you love rhyme, end rhymes throughout each line could give the poem a powerful rhythm (although with that approach, you'll need to count syllables and experiment more). Trying something unfamiliar gave me new respect for how poetry can stretch language's limits.

To my fellow poets out there: keep creating, keep experimenting. Whether you’re sticking to form or making up your own, remember—the beauty of poetry is in the risks we take
If you write an acrostic alliteration, please share it with me. I would also like feedback from other poets.