Poetry Subcategories

Nursery Rhymes Fun, usually short poems Written for children, often for bedtime Mother Goose was the first collection (unsure if existed) Sometimes written for adults to secretly make fun of rulers or document history

Limerick Short humorous poem Usually 5 lines Begins with “There once was…” Rumored to have been created in Ireland in the city of the same name Began around the 18th/19th century Has a specific beat and rythm

Example There once was a young man named Dean Who loved to eat peaches ice cream One day he found out That they were all out And it made him so mad he could scream

Haiku A short poem of Japanese origin Uses imagery to describe nature, usually a particular season Traditionally has three lines and seventeen syllables Format: 5 7 5

Example The sun takes its bow A myriad of colors Fading to shadows

Narrative Poem A story told in poem format Usually rhymes Oldest form (sung by bards) Longest form Ex.- “Paul Revere’s Last Ride”

Lyric Poem Describes feelings and ideas Usually shorter than narrative verse Must rhyme and have a distinct rhythm Most common form

Free Verse Has no set length or rhyme scheme Can have a rhythm (beat) Has no rules! The most modern form of poetry Ex. List poems

Epitaph An inscription carved on a tombstone Usually humorous and short Think The Haunted Mansion in Disney Usually begins with “Here Lies…”

Shape Poem A poem in the shape of its subject