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- Haiku. A haiku is a Japanese three-line poem composed of simple, striking language in a 5-7-5 structure of moras, or rhythmic sound units similar to a syllable.
- Tanka. The ultra-brief Japanese tanka is traditionally presented as a single unbroken sentence containing 31 syllables; when translated into English, the number of lines typically takes a three, or five-line form in order to highlight the turn or twist at the last third of the poem.
- Sijo. Sijo is a three-line poem that is believed to have first appeared in fourteenth-century Korea. Sijo poems follow a structure familiar to fans of Japanese haiku and tanka: There are three lines in total, each with about 14–16 syllables, for a total syllable count of 44–46.
- Acrostic. Acrostic poems are a type of poem where the first letter of each line (or each paragraph) forms a hidden word or message. Useful for odes to your beloved or forms of dissent—public resignations by disgruntled officials are a particularly popular place to deploy one—acrostics can be very simple and spare, or take a more understated form in full verse, like the below, written by Lewis Carroll as a Christmas present for the Liddell girls, Lorina, Alice, and Edith, in 1861
- 12 Different Types of Poems
- Sonnet
- Villanelle
- Haiku
- Ekphrastic Poems
- Concrete Poems
- Elegy
- Epigram
- Limerick
- Ballad
Below is a list of some of the most common types of poetry, their main characteristics, and famous examples of each. You may prefer to read certain types of poems, while for other types you may enjoy writing your own! Familiarize yourself with these different styles and see if any spark your imagination.
Sonnets are practically synonymous with Shakespeare, but there are actually two different kinds of this famous poetic form. Having originated in 13thcentury Italy, the sonnet usually deals with love and has two common forms: the Petrarchan (named for its famous practitioner, the poet Petrarch) and the Shakespearean (also known as the English sonnet...
Villanelles have even more specific rules than sonnets. Luckily, many of the lines are repetitions, but this means you’ll have to take care to make those lines meaningful.
You might remember writing a few of these back in grade school, because not only are these poems short, but they can be very fun to write. The haiku originated in 17thcentury Japan. Although they usually refer to nature, the only real rule applies to the number of syllables in each line, so you can let your imagination run wild with this one.
Ekphrastic poems don’t really have specific rules, but they do speak of another work of art. Ekphrasis comes from the Greek word for “description,” and that’s exactly what this poem should do: vividly describe a painting, statue, photograph, or story. One famous example is found in the Iliad, where Homer refers to Achilles’ shield.
Concrete poetry is designed to take a particular shape or form on the page. Poets can manipulate spacing or layout to emphasize a theme or important element in the text, or sometimes they can take the literal shape of their subjects.
The elegy is another type of poem that lacks particular rules, but it usually is written in mourning following a death. They can be written for a particular person, or treat the subject of loss more generally.
Epigrams are short, witty, and often satirical poems that usually take the form of a couplet or quatrain (2-4 lines in length).
Limericks are humorous poems that have a more distinct rhythm. Their subject matter is sometimes crude, but always designed to offer laughs.
Ballads usually take a narrative form to tell us stories. They are often arranged in quatrains, but the form is loose enough that writers can easily modify it.
- Sonnet. The invention of the sonnet is first accredited to the thirteenth-century Sicilian poet Giacomo da Lentini, who crafted the form as an ideal way of expressing ‘courtly love’.
- Ode. Ever get so excited about that new book you’ve been waiting to get your hands on, or that new game with amazing graphics, that you just want to tell everyone about it?
- Ballad. While most modern readers may be more familiar with 80s power ballads than the works of middle-English poets — poetry, culture, and music as we know it today will owe a lot to this form.
- Elegy. An elegy is a mournful poetic form, the origins of which can be traced back to a combination of Ancient Greek poetics and Old English scriptures from the 11th Century, written to lament a death.
Epigram. Not to be confused with an epigraph (a quotation which prefaces a book, poem, or chapter) or an epitaph (an inscription on a gravestone), an epigram is a short, pithy poem which usually makes a wise and/or witty point. Many of the poems of Ogden Nash can be categorised as epigrams. Haiku.
- Lyric Poetry. Unlike narrative poetry that tells a story, lyric poetry is more focused on capturing a particular mood, moment, or sentiment. It is a genre of poetry that expresses personal emotions, thoughts, and observations.
- Narrative Poetry. Narrative poetry is a genre of poetry that tells a story or recounts a sequence of events. It uses poetic language and techniques to convey a plot, characters, and a sense of progression.
- Pastoral Poetry. Pastoral poetry is a genre that idealizes rural life and the beauty of nature. It depicts a romanticized and peaceful natural setting, often populated by shepherds, shepherdesses, and other pastoral figures.
- Dramatic Poetry. Dramatic poetry is a genre that mimics the conventions of theater or dramatic performance through dialogue or monologue. It is driven either by monologues or by dialogue between characters, providing insights into their thoughts, feelings, and interactions.
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Oct 10, 2023 · Villanelle. 1. Acrostic poem. An acrostic poem has several variations, but the main idea is that one or two letters of every line combined spell out a word. 1. The first letters of each line spell out a word if read vertically downwards. 2. The first letter of each line and the last letter make a word.
Nov 4, 2023 · As any she belied with false compare. 2. The Haiku. You might remember haiku poems from your high school English class. These short poems are popular assignments for students in creative writing, and they can be super fun to play around with, especially if you’re pretty new to writing your own poetry.
