An acrostic poem is a type of poem or word composition in which the first letter (or syllable, or word) of each new line (or paragraph, or other recurring feature in the text) spells out a word, message, or the alphabet. The word "acrostic" comes from the Greek words "akros" (outermost) and "stichos" (line of verse) . Acrostic poems have been around for thousands of years and can be found among the works of ancient Greek and Latin writers, medieval monks, and Renaissance poets.
Acrostics are common in medieval literature, where they usually serve to highlight the name of the poet or his patron, or to make a prayer to a saint. They are most frequent in verse works but can also appear in prose. The Middle High German poet Rudolf von Ems, for example, opens all his great works with an acrostic of his name, and his world chronicle marks the beginning of each age with an acrostic of the key figure (Moses, David, etc.) .
Acrostic poems can be written in different ways, such as using the first letter of each line to spell out a word or phrase, using the last letter of each line, or using letters in the middle of the acrostic to spell out the word or phrase. The most common and simple form of an acrostic poem is where the first letters of each line spell out the word or phrase.
Acrostic poems can add a new dimension to a poem or other text and transform straightforward poetry or prose into a word puzzle by enlisting the reader to decode a secret message. They can also be used to highlight a particular theme or subject.
