Lesson 1: Writing Poetry

In this lesson, you will review some common types of poetry and common poetry-related vocabularly. You'll learn what sort of poetry is most marketable and how to edit and revise your poetry for publication.

Types of Poetry

There are many different types of poetry. Here are some of the most common.

Note: examples of poetry given below are written by Kelly Morris, unless otherwise noted.

Acrostic poem: a poem in which the first letters of the lines, read downward, spell out a word or message.

Summer is on its way.
Pear trees are in bloom.
Rains are gentle
In the afternoons.
New leaves grow, and the
Grass is Easter green.

Blank Verse: unrhymed iambic pentameter

Cinquain: a five-line stanza of poetry. There are a couple different types of cinquain, some which rhyme, and some which don’t. Most common is a five-line stanza in which the first line has two syllables, the second line has four syllables, the third line has six, the fourth line has eight, and the fifth has two. (2,4,6,8,2)

Couplet: two lines of rhyming poetry (aa)

Emblematic Verse (also called calligramme, concrete poem, shaped poem, or visual poem): a poem in which the words form a typographical picture

For instance, a poem about Hanukah in which the words form the shape of a Star of David, or a poem about bells in which the words form the shape of a bell.

Epic Poem: a long narrative poem about a journey or about the adventures and bravery of a hero

Free Verse: poetry that does not conform to the rules of any particular style. Generally unrhymed.

Haiku: a Japanese form of poetry consisting of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables. Haiku usually focuses on nature or the seasons. (5,7,5)

Light verse: humorous poetry, usually rhymed

Limerick: light verse, often bawdy, consisting of five lines with an aabba rhyme scheme

There was an old man in Nantucket
Who kept all his money in a bucket.
He had a daughter named Nan
Who ran away with a man,
And as for the money, Nan took it.
(source unknown)

Lyric Poem: usually a relatively short poem, expressing emotion or a state of mind. A non-narrative poem that is like a person “thinking out loud.”

Narrative Poem: a poem that tells a story. Narrative poems present characters and lead them through a plot.

Ode: a poem written in praise of a person, place, or thing

Quatrain: a four-line stanza, which may consist of various rhyme schemes (such as aabb or abab)

Sonnet: there are two types of sonnets. The Shakespearean sonnet is most common, and uses the following rhyme scheme: abab cdcd efef gg. The other type of sonnet is the Italian sonnet, which uses the following rhyme scheme: abba abba cdd cee.

Tanka: a Japanese form of poetry consisting of five unrhymed lines of five, seven, five, seven, and seven syllables (5,7,5,7,7). Similar to haiku.

Terza rima: three-line stanzas of poetry, using the following rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc

Triplet: three lines of rhyming poetry (aaa)

1  2  3  4  5   

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