Poetry FormsPoetry Forms
CoupletCouplet
A poem made of two lines of end rhyming A poem made of two lines of end rhyming poetry that usually have the same meter.poetry that usually have the same meter.
Example: Example:
I have the measles and the mumps,I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash and purple bumps.A gash, a rash and purple bumps.
DiamanteDiamante
A 7 lined poem. That is diamond in shapeA 7 lined poem. That is diamond in shape
Line 1: Noun Line 1: Noun Line 2: Two Adjectives describing the first nounLine 2: Two Adjectives describing the first nounLine 3: Three -ing words describing the first nounLine 3: Three -ing words describing the first nounLine 4: Four words: two about the first noun and two Line 4: Four words: two about the first noun and two
about the antonym or synonym of the first nounabout the antonym or synonym of the first nounLine 5: Three -ing words about the antonym or Line 5: Three -ing words about the antonym or
synonym synonym Line 6: Two adjectives describing the antonym or Line 6: Two adjectives describing the antonym or
synonym synonym Line 7: Antonym or synonym for the first noun Line 7: Antonym or synonym for the first noun
Diamante ExampleDiamante Example
Rain Rain
humid, damp humid, damp
refreshing, dripping, splattering refreshing, dripping, splattering
wet, slippery, cold, slushy wet, slippery, cold, slushy
sliding, melting, freezing sliding, melting, freezing
frigid, icy frigid, icy
Snow Snow
HaikuHaikuUnrhymed Japanese verse consisting of Unrhymed Japanese verse consisting of three unrhymed lines three unrhymed lines
Line 1: five syllablesLine 1: five syllables
Line 2: seven syllablesLine 2: seven syllables
Line 3: five syllables Line 3: five syllables
Haiku is usually written in the present tense Haiku is usually written in the present tense and focuses on nature.and focuses on nature.
Example: Example: warm soup in a bowl warm soup in a bowl
letters of the alphabet letters of the alphabet
hang on the teaspoon hang on the teaspoon
CinquainCinquain
Short, usually unrhymed poem consisting of Short, usually unrhymed poem consisting of twenty-two syllables distributed as twenty-two syllables distributed as 2, 4, 6, 8, 2, 4, 6, 8, 2, in five lines2, in five lines
Line 1: Noun Line 1: Noun
Line 2: Description of Noun Line 2: Description of Noun
Line 3: Action Line 3: Action
Line 4: Feeling or Effect Line 4: Feeling or Effect
Line 5: Synonym of the initial noun Line 5: Synonym of the initial noun
Cinquain ExampleCinquain Example
SpaghettiSpaghetti
Messy, spicyMessy, spicy
Slurping, sliding, fallingSlurping, sliding, falling
Between my plate and mouthBetween my plate and mouth
DeliciousDelicious
Epitaph
A phrase or statement written in memory A phrase or statement written in memory of a person who has died, especially as of a person who has died, especially as an inscription on a tombstone.an inscription on a tombstone.
EXAMPLE: John Donne (1572-1631)John Donne (1572-1631)
Reader, I am to let thee know,Reader, I am to let thee know, Donne's body only lies below; Donne's body only lies below; For could the grave his soul comprise, For could the grave his soul comprise, Earth would be richer than the skies. Earth would be richer than the skies.
SonnetSonnet
A Sonnet is a poem consisting of 14 lines A Sonnet is a poem consisting of 14 lines (iambic pentameter) with a particular (iambic pentameter) with a particular rhyming scheme: rhyming scheme:
Examples of a rhyming scheme:Examples of a rhyming scheme:
#1) abab cdcd efef gg #1) abab cdcd efef gg
#2) abba cddc effe gg #2) abba cddc effe gg
#3) abba abba cdcd cd #3) abba abba cdcd cd
Iambic PentameterIambic Pentameter
PentameterPentameter is simply penta, which means is simply penta, which means 5, meters. So a line of poetry written in 5, meters. So a line of poetry written in pentameter has 5 feet, or 5 sets of stressed pentameter has 5 feet, or 5 sets of stressed and unstressed syllables. and unstressed syllables.
An An iambiamb is a foot or beat consisting of an is a foot or beat consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable,syllable,
In basic In basic iambic pentameter, iambic pentameter, a line would a line would have 5 feet of iambs.have 5 feet of iambs.
Sonnet ExampleSonnet ExampleShakespeare’s Sonnet 18Shakespeare’s Sonnet 18
Shall Shall II com comparepare thee thee toto a a sumsummer's mer's dayday??Thou art more lovely and more temperate.Thou art more lovely and more temperate.Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,And summer's lease hath all too short a date.And summer's lease hath all too short a date.Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,And often is his gold complexion dimmed;And often is his gold complexion dimmed;And every fair from fair sometime declines,And every fair from fair sometime declines,By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed;By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed;But thy eternal summer shall not fade,But thy eternal summer shall not fade,Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st.When in eternal lines to Time thou grow'st.So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.
AcrosticAcrostic
The first letter of each line spells a word, The first letter of each line spells a word, usually using the same words as in the title.usually using the same words as in the title.
DOGDOG
DDevoted,evoted,
OOn n GGuard. uard.
Shape Poetry Shape Poetry
The poem to takes on the shape of its The poem to takes on the shape of its subject. subject.
Therefore, if the subject of your poem were Therefore, if the subject of your poem were of a flower, then the poem would be shaped of a flower, then the poem would be shaped like a flower. like a flower.
If it were of a fish, then the poem would take If it were of a fish, then the poem would take on the shape of a fish on the shape of a fish
Shape Poem ExampleShape Poem Example
STARS UMBRELLA
Free VerseFree Verse
An irregular form of poetry in which the An irregular form of poetry in which the content is free of traditional rules of content is free of traditional rules of versification, (freedom from fixed meter or versification, (freedom from fixed meter or rhyme).. rhyme)..
Free Verse ExampleFree Verse Example
The Red Wheelbarrow The Red Wheelbarrow by William Carlos Williams by William Carlos Williams
so much depends so much depends upon upon
a red wheel a red wheel barrow barrow
glazed with rain glazed with rain water water
beside the white beside the white chickens chickens