Poetry, with its evocative language and artistic form, has the power to captivate and inspire. From sonnets to haikus, each type of poem offers a unique way to convey emotions, tell stories, and explore the depths of human experience. Follow along as we delve into the rich tapestry of poetic expressions; highlighting 18 different types to ignite the imagination and deepen your students’ appreciation for the diverse power of words.
1. Sonnet
This elegant, 14-line poem is the embodiment of romantic introspection; typically dealing with passionate themes of love and beauty. Known for its strict rhyme scheme, sonnets come in two popular variants: the Italian (Petrarchan) and the English (Shakespearean). Take, for instance, Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?“
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2. Haiku
Haikus are the poetic whispers of the soul. Birthed in Japan, this concise three-line format follows a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Haikus are windows to tranquil nature scenes and changing seasons. A classic example:
An old silent pond…
A frog jumps into the pond,
splash! Silence again.
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3. Limerick
With their cheeky humor and rhythmic bounce, limericks are the jesters of poetry. This five-line verse with an AABBA rhyme scheme traces its roots back to Ireland. Consider the following:
There once was a man from Kent
Whose body was terribly bent.
He walked with a lean
And was never quite seen
To stand up completely straight, so he went.
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4. Epigram
Sharp as a knife and just as precise, epigrams deliver wit in neat little packages. Often satirical, these verses strive to express an idea in a brief yet potent way. Alexander Pope was a master of this, saying, “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”
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5. Ghazal
The Ghazal, an intricate gem from Arabic poetry, expresses themes of love, beauty, and the poignant pain of loss. Each couplet stands alone in its message as seen below:
Even though we know of life’s transience,
What will the heart do but cling to its pretense?
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6. Villanelle
This 19-line poem with two refrains creates an enchanting repetition that serves to emphasize its theme. Dylan Thomas’s “Do not go gentle into that good night” is a renowned example of this form.
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7. Sestina
For the sophisticated palate, the sestina offers a complex feast. A French invention, this unrhymed poetic form consists of six stanzas with six lines each, followed by a three-line envoy. An example is Elizabeth Bishop’s “A Miracle for Breakfast”:
At six o’clock we were waiting for coffee,
waiting for coffee and the charitable crumb
that was going to be served from a certain balcony
–like kings of old, or like a miracle.
It was still dark. One foot of the sun
steadied itself on a long ripple in the river.
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8. Concrete Poetry
In concrete poetry, form meets function as words are arranged so that they visually embody the subject matter. Imagine a poem about a star- with the words themselves forming a sparkling constellation on the page. Examples include George Herbert’s “Easter Wings”
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9. Ekphrastic Poetry
Ekphrastic poetry is a grand conversation between two art forms. These poems spring from the canvas; captivating readers to explore narratives or the emotional undercurrents that they evoke. The best example is, “My Last Duchess“, by Robert Browning.
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10. Cinquain
The cinquain is the everyman of poetry; a five-line form created to make writing poetry accessible and easy for all. Each line carries a specific role and follows a syllable pattern at times. A simple example:
Snowfall
Softly Sings
In the Dead of Night
Blanketing the World in
Purity.
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11. Acrostic
Acrostic poems are the hidden gems in the poetry world. The first, last, or other letters in each line spell out a particular word or phrase; weaving in secret messages or meanings. An example using the word “ART”:
Abstract masterpieces
Revealing inner thoughts
Transforming reality.
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12. Pantoum
Originating from Malaysia, the pantoum presents a looping dance of words. Each quatrain interweaves lines from the previous stanza, creating a sense of echoed resonance throughout the poem. One of the best examples is “Parent’s Pantoum” by Carolyn Kizer.
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13. Ballad
Ballads, otherwise defined as narrative poems, are often set to music and spin compelling tales of adventure, love, or tragedy. They sing their stories with a rhythmic pulse and rhyme scheme. Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee” is one of them.
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14. Ode
Odes are the grand speeches of the poetry world- ceremoniously addressing an event, person, or abstract idea. Their thoughtful reflections and deep sentiments resound with a solemn yet passionate tone. One of the most popular examples is “Ode to a Nightingale” by John Keats
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15. Terza Rima
Italian in origin, terza rima is a chain of verses; interlocking in three-line stanzas. It leads the reader down a winding road of rhymes. “The Yachts” by William Carlos Williams is one of the most noteworthy examples.
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16. Triolet
The triolet, a French eight-line poem, is known for its repetition of lines and haunting refrain. Two rhymes run throughout and bind the verses together. Thomas Hardy’s “How Great My Grief,” is perhaps the best-known example.
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17. Clerihew
The clerihew is the joker of poetry. In four-line verses, it humorously sketches a person- most likely someone who is famous. Edmund Clerihew Bentley, its creator, wrote:
Sir Christopher Wren
Said, ‘I am going to dine with some men.
If anyone calls
Say I am designing St. Paul’s.
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18. Tanka
A cousin of the haiku, the tanka is an unrhymed Japanese form that explores themes of love, nature, seasons, and sorrow across five lines of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables. For example:
Winter seclusion –
Listening, that evening,
To the rain in the mountain.
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