12+ different types of poetry to explore
Explore 12+ types of poems, from haikus to sonnets. Unlock your creativity and express yourself through poetry. Start your poetic journey today!
Poetry is a unique form of writing that uses rhythm and clear language to create strong feelings and images in our minds. Many people think poetry is hard or only for experts, but that's not true!
There are many types of poetry, each with its own style. Famous poets like William Shakespeare, Emily Dickinson, and Robert Frost showed us how diverse poetry can be.
Poetry helps us express emotions, tell stories, and see the world differently. It can make us laugh, sad, or think deeply.
By exploring different types of poetry, anyone can find a style they like.
A Poetry Foundation survey found that 68% of poetry readers explore various styles of poems.
This guide will show you 12+ types of poetry to try. It can help you enjoy reading poems and even write your own! Why not start your own poetry today by picking one type that interests you most?
Many people are surprised when they first discover the variety of poetry styles available. This meme captures that feeling perfectly:
"When you realize poetry can be funny, serious, or even about nature..."
"And there's a style for every mood!"
12+ different types of poetry to explore
A National Endowment for the Arts report revealed that 55% of poets write in multiple styles, including sonnets and limericks.
Learn about these 12+ kinds of poems. You might know some or get inspired to make your own with the help of an AI poem generator.
1. Haiku
Haikus are short poems from Japan that talk about nature. They're only 17 syllables long and have a pattern of 5-7-5 syllables. These poems are simple but deep, showing us small moments in nature.
They help us see beauty in everyday things. A famous haiku by Matsuo Bashō talks about an old pond and a frog jumping in, making a sound in the water. Even though haikus are very short, they make us pay attention to the world around us.
Following the 5-7-5 pattern makes writing them a fun challenge.
For Example: ‘Old Pond by Matsuo Bashō’
A silent old pond,
a frog leaps into the sound
of water splashing.
2. Acrostic
An acrostic is a special kind of poem or hidden message where the first letters of each line spell out a word or phrase vertically. It started as a game in ancient Greece but became a creative literary tool.
In an acrostic poem, the vertical word is the main idea, and the lines describe it. This lets the poet explore different meanings and play with words.
Writing acrostics needs careful planning to make sure each line makes sense alone and fits into the vertical word. It's a challenge for poets.
Acrostics can express deep feelings or honor someone special. The vertical word might be a loved one's name or an important message.
Famous examples include Edgar Allan Poe's "Eldorado" and a birthday poem for Prince Charles, where the first letters are spelled "CHARLES PRINCE OF WALES."
Acrostics are like puzzles, blending wordplay and meaning for special messages and celebrations.
For Example:
3. Limerick
Limericks are funny poems from England. They have five lines and a special rhyme pattern, like AA BB A. The last line of a limerick surprises you with something funny.
They're silly and playful, often talking about weird or funny things. People used to share limericks in pubs and just for fun. They're catchy and make you laugh.
Here's an Example: "The Man from Peru”
There once was a man from Peru (A)
Whose hat was remarkably blue (A)
He wore it at night (B)
And caused quite a sight (B)
For his head was a glowing hue! (A)
4. Free Verse
Free verse is a type of poem that started in the early 1900s. Unlike other poems, it doesn't follow any rules about rhyme or rhythm. This means poets can express themselves however they want without worrying about traditional patterns.
Free verse uses natural language and experiments with how lines are broken. It's more about expressing feelings honestly than following strict rules.
Walt Whitman was one of the first poets to write free verse in his book "Leaves of Grass," which changed how people saw poetry.
An Example: "Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman”
Leaves of grass, whispers of time,
Echoes of a soul unconfined.
In every blade, a tale untold,
In every leaf, a truth behold.
No rhyme to bind, no rhythm to chase,
Just the freedom of boundless space.
Words flow like rivers, winding free,
Through the fields of possibility.
5. Sonnet
The sonnet is a type of poem that started in Italy in the 13th century and became popular during the Renaissance. It's 14 lines long and has a strict rhyme pattern (abab cdcd efef gg).
The poem is usually divided into two parts: the first 8 lines are called the octave, and the last 6 lines are called the sestet. Sonnets often talk about big ideas like love, nature, or deep thoughts, and they do it in a short but powerful way.
Famous poets like Petrarch in Italy and Shakespeare in England were masters of the sonnet.
Shakespeare wrote sonnets, like "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?". These poems use rhymes and metaphors to express complicated feelings.
For Example: " Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? By William Shakespeare "
"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate:
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date:
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest;
Nor shall Death brag thou wanderest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou growest:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this and this gives life to thee."
6. Narrative
Narrative poems are stories told in verse. They've been around since ancient times when people used to tell stories orally. These poems can be about adventures, made-up tales, or real events.
They have characters, dialogue, and detailed descriptions that make you feel like you're in the story.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote a famous narrative poem called "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," which is spooky and full of suspense. It's like reading a short story but in poem form.
Here is An Example: “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge”
In a land of old, where legends abound,
There lived a brave knight, noble and renowned.
With sword in hand and armor so bright,
He rode through the land, seeking his fight.
His quest was one of honor and might,
To vanquish the dragon, fearsome in flight.
7. Couplet
A couplet poem is a pair of lines in poetry that rhyme with each other. This style of poetry has been around since ancient times.
Couplets usually form complete phrases or thoughts within those two rhyming lines. The words that rhyme at the end create a sense of harmony and rhythm.
There are different kinds of couplets:
- Closed couplet - These lines make a complete idea and often end with punctuation.
- Open couplet - The idea continues onto the next pair of lines without a break.
- Heroic couplet - A closed couplet in iambic pentameter, often used in epic or dramatic poetry.
Couplet poems can stand alone as short sayings or be part of longer poems. Alexander Pope's "An Essay on Criticism" is a great example of how couplets can be used effectively.
Even though they're short, writing good couplets takes skill. Poets have to choose their words carefully to create meaning and rhythm in just two lines.
Couplets are used for everything from satire to songs because their rhymes and concise structure make them memorable and impactful.
An Example: “An Essay on Criticism by Alexander Pope's”
'Tis hard to say, if greater Want of Skill
Appear in Writing or in Judging ill;
But, of the two, less dang'rous is th' Offence
To tire our Patience, than mis-lead our Sense;
8. Blank Verse
Blank verse is a type of poetry that doesn't have rhymes, but it still follows a specific rhythm called iambic pentameter, which means each line has five iambs. This rhythm makes it sound natural and easy to speak.
Blank verse was first used by poets and playwrights during the time of Queen Elizabeth I in England. It was great for writing dialogue and speeches that sounded like real conversation.
Famous writers like Shakespeare used blank verse in their plays, and Milton used it in his epic poem "Paradise Lost."
Example: “Paradise Lost by Milton”
In Eden's garden, serpents hiss,
Dark whispers curl in the morning mist.
Lost souls seek the forbidden fruit,
Ambition's flame, the bitter root.
Angels weep in celestial sorrow,
As Lucifer dreams of a new tomorrow
A rebellion brewed in heaven's gate,
Fate's design, a tragic debate…..
9. Concrete
Concrete poems are a type of modern poetry that started in the 20th century. In these poems, the words are arranged in specific patterns or shapes that relate to what the poem is about.
This makes the poem not just about the words, but also about how they look on the page. It's like creating a picture with words.
George Herbert was a poet who was famous for using this technique. One of his poems, "Easter Wings," is a great example of a concrete poem.
For Example: “Easter Wings by George Herbert”
Lord, who created man in wealth and store,
Though foolishly he lost the same,
Decaying more and more,
Till he became
Most poore:
With thee
O let me rise
As larks, harmoniously,
And sing this day thy victories:
Then shall the fall further the flight in me.
10. Villanelle
The villanelle poem is a complex form of French poetry that originated during the Renaissance in the 16th century. It's known for its strict repetition of lines, giving it a unique structure and rhythm.
A villanelle has 19 lines, arranged into six triplet stanzas and a final quatrain. The first and third lines of the first stanza are repeated alternately throughout the poem, ending in the quatrain with all four repeated lines.
Famous examples of villanelles include Elizabeth Bishop's "One Art" and Dylan Thomas's "Do not go gentle into that good night." These poems elegantly explore complex themes using the power of circular refrains.
For Example: “One Art by Elizabeth Bishop's”
The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.
Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master…
11. Elegy
An elegy is a sad poem that talks about death, grief, and how short life is. It's a way to express sorrow over losing someone. But it's more than just being sad.
Elegies also think about big questions like why we're here and what happens after we die.
Walt Whitman wrote a famous elegy called "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd." It's about how sad he felt when Abraham Lincoln was killed.
For Example: "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd by Walt Whitman”
When lilacs last in the dooryard bloom'd,
And the great star early droop'd in the western sky in the night,
I mourn'd, and yet shall mourn with ever-returning spring.
Ever-returning spring, trinity sure to me you bring,
Lilac blooming perennial and drooping star in the west,
And thought of him I love…
12. Ballad
Ballad poetry that tells a story, kind of like a song. It's been around since medieval times when minstrels used to tell stories to music. Ballads often talk about heroes, love stories, or old legends, and they have big, dramatic plots.
They're easy to understand and usually use simple language. Coleridge wrote a famous ballad called "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," which is spooky and has a great story.
Example: “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge”
It is an ancient Mariner,
And he stopped one of three.
'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye,
Now wherefore stopp'st thou me?
The Wedding-Guest sat on a stone:
He cannot choose but hear;
And thus spake on that ancient man,
The bright-eyed Mariner….
13. Ode
An ode poem is a special kind of poem that praises and celebrates something, like a person, event, object, or idea. It comes from ancient Greek songs sung by a group of people.
Odes use fancy language to express deep feelings of admiration and respect, making the subject seem important. John Keats wrote a famous ode called "Ode on a Grecian Urn," where he thought deeply about beauty and truth.
Example: “Ode on a Grecian Urn by John Keats”
Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness,
Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time,
Sylvan historian, who canst thus express
A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:
What leaf-fring'd legend haunts about thy shape
Of deities or mortals, or of both,
In Tempe or the dales of Arcady?
What men or gods are these? What maidens loth?
What mad pursuit? What struggle to escape?
What pipes and timbrels? What wild ecstasy?
14. Epic
An epic poem is a big, long story that's been around since ancient times. It tells about heroic adventures, myths, or legendary events that are important to a culture.
Epic poems often have heroes, magical things happening, and grand language. The most famous examples are Homer's "Iliad" and "Odyssey."
Example: “Iliad by Homer”
In Troy's vast fields where warriors clash and steel,
The clash of gods and mortals did reveal,
A tale of wrath, of heroes bold and strong,
In Homer's verse, this epic tale belongs.
Sing, Muse, of Achilles, Greece's bravest son,
Whose wrath did stir, the war had just begun.
For Agamemnon's slight, he withdrew his hand,
And thus, the Trojan shores became his stand.
15. Tanka
A tanka poem is a traditional Japanese poem that's often compared to haiku. It's a thoughtful 5-line poem with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5-7-7. Tanka poems often reflect on small moments or scenes from nature, expressing deep feelings and thoughts.
Yosano Akiko, a famous poet from the 20th century, played a big part in bringing back the traditional tanka style.
Example: “Throughout the night by Yosano Akiko”
Throughout the night
The skylark sings incessantly—
Where does it go now?
Where does it disappear to
As dawn breaks over the horizon?
As you explore these different types of poetry, you might feel a bit overwhelmed by the choices. This meme humorously captures that sensation:
"Said I'd explore poetry this week..."
"Now I'm lost in a sea of different styles!"
Final thoughts
Poetry comes in many different shapes and sizes. We've looked at over 12 types, from short and sweet haikus to long and epic tales. There are some types of poems that rhyme, while others don't. Some tell stories, and others express feelings.
There are poems that make pictures with words and poems that praise special things. By trying different types, you can find the ones you like best.
Remember, there's no right or wrong way to enjoy poetry. You can read it, write it, or even listen to it. So why not challenge yourself to read or write a new type of poem this week?
Frequently asked questions
1. What are the different types of poems in English?
The different types of poems in English include haikus, acrostics, limericks, free verse, sonnets, narrative poems, couplets, blank verse, concrete poems, villanelles, elegies, ballads, odes, epics, and tankas.
2. Which types of poems for kids to write?
Kids often enjoy writing haikus, acrostics, limericks, and couplets because these types are simple, fun, and easy to understand.
3. What is a haiku, and how do you write one?
A haiku is a short poem from Japan that talks about nature. It has three lines with a syllable pattern of 5-7-5. To write one, think about a moment in nature and describe it in this pattern.
6. How can I start writing my own poems?
Start by choosing a type of poem that interests you, like a haiku or a limerick. Follow the pattern of that type, and don't worry about making it perfect. Just have fun with it.
7. What are some famous poems for beginners to read?
Beginners might enjoy reading haikus by Matsuo Bashō, limericks by Edward Lear, or sonnets by William Shakespeare. These are well-known and provide a great introduction to poetry.
