It was believed that the style of writing calligrammes was originally developed in 1918 by the French poet, Guillaume Apollinaire, when he published a book of poems that did not look like poems. He named the book Calligrammes which means “beautiful writing”.

He used words and lines to form his poems. Sometimes the shape related to the subject of the poem. 

But actually the calligram style of poetry was written before then. It was called “shaped poetry” or “pattern poetry.”  English poet George Herber wrote “Easter Wings” and “The Altar” two famous shaped poems. 

Easter Wings
by George Herber, 1633 

Editor's note: The poem is usually printed in modern anthologies

as seen above. In the 1633 edition. the poem is printed as seen

in the scanned copy below, making it look more like its title.

                        A
                    leaf                            so
                 quietly             falls in the
            middle of the     night that no 
            person hears the swish as it 
              falls to the ground. “Swish!”
    The leaf whispers to the moon.
      Only the moon hears the leaf say her
       final good-by.  Hears the leaf make her so
               silent cry. “Good-by to you warm
         days and   /  nights. Farewell moon!
                            /   Farewell to all!
                          /       Fall has arrived.
                        /           I          must go!”

                  A                                 
                    leaf                            so
                 quietly             falls in the
            middle of the     night that no 
             person hears the swish as it 
              falls to the ground. “Swish!”
    The leaf whispers to the moon.
      Only the moon hears the leaf say her
       final good-by.  Hears the leaf make her so
               silent cry. “Good-by to you warm
         days and   /  nights. Farewell moon!
                            /   Farewell to all!
                          /       Fall has arrived.
                        /           I          must go!”  

Link back to the Poetry Wednesday tour on Laurita’s page

deletereply starfishred wrote on Nov 17, ’08 CUTE NICE POEM LOVE THE LEAF

deletereply billatplay wrote on Nov 17, ’08 Lovely poem and may I say an inventive layout. Leaf certainly, the USA? possibly and even Australia if someone hadn’t bitten a chunk out of the Northern Territories. Oh and thank you for the music.lol. I’ve borrowed the title.

deletereply sanssouciblogs wrote on Nov 17, ’08 Beautiful! Beautiful!! So enjoyable–visual and literary, what could be better? Just lovely, brava!!

deletereply nessiek wrote on Nov 17, ’08 Fantastic! I have fond memories of Alice in Wonderland and the shaped poetry that contains! Nessie x

deletereply mntsinger wrote on Nov 17, ’08 this was wonderful thank you Laurita 🙂

deletereply dianahopeless wrote on Nov 17, ’08 How beautiful! The shapes are as nice as the poems. I’m learning so much from you Laurita.  ((HUGS))

deletereply papahere wrote on Nov 17, ’08 Fascinating presentation of one way to expand one’s creative ability to also include a visual image to satisfy our eyes for aesthetic appreciation. ~ Papa

deletereply forgetmenot525 wrote on Nov 18, ’08 ditto………….fascinating, I love the scanned version of the 1633 poem, that is quite beautiful. And your little leaf right at the bottom really makes you realise how clever it is. http://forgetmenot525.multiply.com/journal/item/211/Poetry_Wednesday_The_Coming_of_the_Wee_Malkies_by_Stephen_Mulrine.

deletereply sylvie1 wrote on Nov 19, ’08, edited on Nov 19, ’08 I have seen this form of poetry before, and it can really get involved and sometimes be a little difficult to read … and write! It is a challenge and fascinating. Thanks for posting this!! http://sylvie1.multiply.com/journal/item/684/POETRY_WEDNESDAY_

deletereply belita747 wrote on Nov 19, ’08 Laurita…it’s so beautiful in every sense. Thanks for sharing it on here.

deletereply asolotraveler wrote on Nov 19, ’08 as i began to read your post my first thought was of the leaf poem and BINGO as i scrolled – it appeared – thanks!

deletereply jadedruid wrote on Nov 19, ’08 I love the leaf poem. So cleaver.

editdeletereply lauritasita wrote on Nov 19, ’08 Yes, the leaf poem is my favorite, too !