POETRY

PoeticGENRES

Poetic GENRES

To begin with, let’s remember that most poetry does NOT rhyme.

Poetic GENRES

Lyric poetryDEFINITION: highly musical verse that expresses the observations and feelings of a single speaker. It creates a single, unified impression.

Short Usually in 1st person point of view Expresses emotion or describes a scene Does NOT tell a story No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic GENRES

Acrostic poetryDEFINITION: a poem in which the first letter of each line spells a word or phrase that is the topic of the poem.

Oftentimes done about a name No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic GENRES

Narrative/Ballad poetryDEFINITION: a poem that tells a story in a musical way or with a musical feeling

Can be as long as the story requires Odd-numbered lines longer than even-numbered lines Even-numbered lines should rhyme

Poetic GENRES

Epic poetryDEFINITION: a long narrative poem about the adventures of gods or a hero. Serious in tone and broad in theme.

Very long No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic GENRES

Concrete or Form poetryDEFINITION: a poem with a physical shape that suggests the subject/topic. The poet arranges the letters, punctuation, and lines to create an image, or picture, on the page.

Length – must fit into the shape No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

Poetic Genres

Free VerseDEFINITION: poetry not written in a regular, rhythmical pattern, or meter. The poet is free to write lines of any length or with any number of stresses, or beats. Free verse is less constraining than other types of poetry.

• No set length• Does not need a required amount of

syllables• No rhyme scheme

PoeticForms

Poetic Forms

HaikuDEFINITION: a Japanese poem about nature.

Poetic Forms

HaikuDEFINITION: a Japanese poem about nature.

Length – 3 lines 5-7-5 No rhyme scheme requirements

hAIKUby Rolf Nelson

Haikus are easy But sometimes they don’t make senseRefrigerator

5 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES5 SYLLABLES

NOTE: not technically a haiku because it’s not about nature

by Jonathan Stephens

Tell me I'm like light,light that reflects off windowsright into your eyes

5 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES5 SYLLABLES

by Jonathan Stephens

I long for summerSwinging in my green hammockThe oak leaves whistling

5 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES5 SYLLABLES

by Matsuo Basho

Spring rainleaking through the roofdripping from the wasps' nest.

2 SYLLABLES5 SYLLABLES6 SYLLABLES

NOTE: But that’s not the right syllables! How is it a haiku?

Poetic Forms

CinquainDEFINITION: can be about anything

Poetic Forms

CinquainDEFINITION: can be about anything

Length – 5 lines 2-4-6-8-2 No rhyme scheme requirements

Cinquains“November “by Adelaide Crapsey

Listen . . .With faint dry sound,Like steps of passing ghosts,The leaves, frost-crisp’d, break from the treesAnd fall.

2 SYLLABLES4 SYLLABLES6 SYLLABLES8 SYLLABLES2 SYLLABLES

“Snow” by Adelaide Crapsey

Look up . . .From bleak’ning hillsBlows down the light, first breathOf wintry wind . . . look up, and scentThe snow!

2 SYLLABLES

6 SYLLABLES

2 SYLLABLES

4 SYLLABLES

8 SYLLABLES

“Guarded Wound” by Adelaide Crapsey

If itWere lighter touchThan petal of flower restingOn grass, oh still too heavy it were,Too heavy!

2 SYLLABLES

8 SYLLABLES

3 SYLLABLES

4 SYLLABLES

9 SYLLABLES

Poetic Forms

TankaDEFINITION: can be about anything

Poetic Forms

TankaDEFINITION: can be about anything

Length – 5 lines 5-7-5-7-7 No rhyme scheme requirements

Tankasby Margaret Chula

hazy autumn moonthe sound of chestnuts droppingfrom an empty skyI gather your belongingsinto boxes for the poor

5 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES5 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES7 SYLLABLES

by Lenard D. Moore

The night is too longA tavern just off the roadWith only one car,But the man and woman hugTo the song on the jukebox

5 SYLLABLES

5 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

by David Rice

yellow daffodilsin both our growing gardensI worship mine most,more than my neighbor's practicethough they look the same as mine

5 SYLLABLES

5 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

7 SYLLABLES

Poetic Forms

Shakespearean SonnetDEFINITION: a type of sonnet made famous by William Shakespeare

Length – 14 lines 10 syllables per line Rhyme scheme:ABAB

CDCD

EFEF

GG

thePrologue

Romeo & Juliet

Shakespearean SonnetABABCDCDEFEFGG

Two households, both alike in DIGNITY(In fair Verona, where we lay our SCENE),From ancient grudge break to new MUTINY,Where civil blood makes civil hands UNCLEAN.From forth the fatal loins of these two FOESA pair of star-crossed lovers take their LIFE;Whose misadventured piteous OVERTHROWSDoth with their death bury their parents’ STRIFE.The fearful passage of their death-marked LOVEAnd the continuance of their parents’ RAGE,Which, but their children’s end, naught could REMOVEIs now the two hours’ traffic of our STAGE;The which, if you with patient ears ATTEND,What hear shall miss, our toil shall strive to MEND.

Shakespearean Sonnet

A

B

A

B

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Two households, both alike in DIGNITY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10(In fair Verona, where we lay our SCENE), 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10From ancient grudge break to new MUTINY, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10Where civil blood makes civil hands UNCLEAN.

Poetic Forms

LimerickDEFINITION: a humorous, musical-feeling poem that oftentimes makes fun of or tells a story about a specific person.

Poetic Forms

LimerickDEFINITION: a humorous, musical-feeling poem that oftentimes makes fun of or tells a story about a specific person.

Length – 5 lines 3 beats – 3 beats – 2 beats – 2 beats – 3 beats Rhyme scheme: A-A-B-B-A

LImerick1. There was an old man from Peru, (A)

da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)

2. who dreamed he was eating his shoe. (A) da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)

3. He awoke in the night (B)da DUM da da DUM (2 DUMS)

4. with a terrible fright, (B)da da DUM da da DUM (2 DUMS)

5. and found out that it was quite true. (A) da DUM da da DUM da da DUM (3 DUMS)

LImerick

There once was a ThingamajigLike a Whatsis, but three times as big.When it first came in view,It looked something like youBut it stayed and turned into a pig.

LImerick

There was a young fellow who thoughtVery little, but thought it a lot.Then at long last he knewWhat he wanted to do,But before he could start, he forgot.

LImerick

There once was an ape in a zooWho looked out through the bars and saw YOU!Do you think that it’s fairTo give poor apes a scare?I think it’s a mean thing to do.

LImerick

I've been studying all night and I'm tired,But I can't sleep because I'm so wired.So I'll play on the net'Stead of going to bed,And my tests will seem a quagmire.

Poetic Forms

OdeDEFINITION: a formal lyric poem with a serious theme. It is usually long and may be written for a private occasion or a public ceremony. Odes often honor people, commemorate events, or respond to natural scenes.

Length – usually long No syllable requirements No rhyme scheme requirements

OdeWilliam Wordsworth’s “Ode Composed on a May Morning”

While from the purpling east departsThe star that led the dawn,Blithe Flora from her couch upstarts,For May is on the lawn.A quickening hope, a freshening glee,Foreran the expected Power,Whose first-drawn breath, from bush and tree,Shakes off that pearly shower . . .