Sensory Imagery in Poetry Checklist

Sensory Images. In poetry, sensory images help the reader see or hear or feel things. Sensory images, also called imagery, are details that appeal to the senses. An apple, for example, might be described "juicy and tart." The words "juicy and tart" appeal to your sense of taste. "The rolling rumble and crash" of thunder, on the other hand, appeals to your sense of hearing. Imagery may appeal to any of your senses. Here are examples of imagery from the poems you have read:

Drops on his jelly belly
streaked glass, flashing with sunlight
Elves wring their little hands
Sits with me on our purple-flowered couch
Shadows drifting across our ceiling
strong melodious songs
crackling splinters of glass and dried putty
Lifted and plopped on the sled
Rap music pour over him like a Jacuzzi full of ball peen hammers
soft shapes . . . inside the hard bodies
Paws padding the ground
Bounce in Johnny-Jump-Up
Landing on your toe
Hands burrowed in soft fur
Tears in her throat
Melt like hot butter
Salty odor of sweat
Face brown as a bun



Use the following guidelines to make sure you follow the directions after writing your poem:


 I selected an object as the subject of my poem.

I have an easily identified subject.

  I made sure to use a thesaurus to find the most appropriate words.

I used at least three of the five senses to create sensory images
in my poem. The sensory images I used worked to give the subject of my
poem more meaning are:

  I used the following figurative language in my poem...