Types of Poems

Poetry comes in many forms, each with unique characteristics and structures. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or new to the art, understanding various types of poems can expand your appreciation and skills. Here’s a look at some common and not-so-common types of poems.

Sonnet

The sonnet is a 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme. There are two main types: the Shakespearean (or English) and the Petrarchan (or Italian).

• Shakespearean Sonnet: Divided into three quatrains and a final couplet. Rhyme scheme: ABABCDCDEFEFGG.
• Petrarchan Sonnet: Divided into an octave and a sestet. Rhyme scheme: ABBAABBACDCDCD or ABBAABBACDECDE.

Haiku

Originating from Japan, haikus are three-line poems. The form follows a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. Haikus often capture a moment in nature and evoke emotion.

Limerick

Limericks are five-line poems with a distinct rhythm and an AABBA rhyme scheme. They often contain humor or whimsical content.

Free Verse

Free verse poems do not follow any specific structure or rhyme scheme. They rely heavily on natural speech rhythms and imagery.

Acrostic

In acrostic poems, the first letter of each line spells out a word or message. This form often serves as a mnemonic device.

Elegy

An elegy is a mournful poem, usually reflecting on death or loss. These poems often have a somber and reflective tone.

Ballad

A ballad is a narrative poem that tells a story. They typically have simple rhyme schemes and repetitive refrains, making them ideal for singing.

Epic

Epic poems are lengthy and narrative, often detailing heroic deeds and events of cultural significance. Examples include Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey.

Ode

An ode is a formal, often ceremonious lyric poem that addresses and celebrates a person, place, thing, or idea. They tend to be elaborate and dignified.

Villanelle

A villanelle consists of 19 lines with a specific pattern of repetition and a strict rhyme scheme. It includes five tercets followed by a quatrain, with the first and third lines of the opening tercet recurring alternately at the end of other tercets and both repeated at the closing quatrain.

Sestina

A sestina contains six stanzas of six lines each, followed by a three-line envoi. The same six words are repeated at the end of lines in a rotating order across the stanzas, creating a complex pattern.

Cinquain

A five-line poem with a specific syllabic and word count pattern. The cinquain can have various forms, such as the American version popularized by Adelaide Crapsey.

Ghazal

The ghazal is a collection of couplets, often dealing with themes of love, pain, and separation. Each couplet is a self-contained unit, and there is a refrain at the end of the second line of each couplet.

Clerihew

Clerihews are humorous four-line biographical poems with an AABB rhyme scheme. Originating from the writer Edmund Clerihew Bentley, they often poke fun at famous people.

Lyric

Lyric poems express personal emotions or thoughts. They are typically short and can be set to music, giving form to the poet’s inner feelings.

Narrative

Narrative poems tell a story. Unlike lyric poems, they follow a plot and usually include characters and a setting. Examples include long epics and shorter ballads.

Pantoum

A pantoum features a series of quatrains. The second and fourth lines of each stanza become the first and third lines of the next, creating a tight, interwoven structure.

Terza Rima

This form uses tercets with an interlocking rhyme scheme: ABA BCB CDC, and so on. Originated by Dante, it creates a chain of interconnected stanzas.

Triolet

A triolet is an eight-line poem where the first line is repeated in the fourth and seventh lines, and the second line is repeated in the final line, with a rhyme scheme of ABaAabAB.

Concrete or Visual Poem

Concrete poems use visual layout to enhance their meaning. The words form shapes or patterns on the page, adding a visual dimension to the reading experience.

Epigram

Epigrams are brief, witty, and often satirical poems. They traditionally end with a surprising or humorous twist.

Blank Verse

Blank verse is unrhymed iambic pentameter. It mimics the natural rhythms of English speech while maintaining a structured meter. Used extensively by Shakespeare.

Slam Poem

Slam poetry is performance-based and designed for live audiences. It emphasizes emotive expression and often addresses social and political themes.

Prose Poem

A prose poem blends elements of prose and poetry. It lacks line breaks but contains poetic features like heightened imagery, metaphor, and other devices.

Couplet

A couplet contains two lines of verse that often rhyme and have the same meter. They can stand alone or be part of a larger work.

Dramatic Monologue

In a dramatic monologue, a single character speaks to a silent listener. The speaker’s words reveal their personality and situation, making it a hybrid of poetry and drama.