Studying POETRY Types of poems

satiric poem a poem which ridicules institutions or individuals

didactic poem a poem which teaches a lesson

descriptive poem includes great detail of the subject

dramatic poem the poet reveals himself/herself through the writing

haiku a Japanese form of poetry that represents the poet’s impression of something from nature (an object or scene); comprised of 3 lines with a total of 17 syllables (5,7,5)

alphabet poem a poem using the linear order of the letters of any portion of the alphabet at the start of each line A ge B irth C offin D esire E ternity

calligram poem the lines of the poem are arranged in the shape of the subject of the poem; also called shape or pattern poetry

narrative poetry poetry which tells a story; varies in length; includes epic, metrical romance, and ballad

epic poem (a type of narrative poetry) a long narrative poem centered on a heroic figure

metrical romance poem (a type of narrative poetry) a long, imaginative narrative involving knights and royalty, brave men and beautiful ladies; it treats romantically such themes as love, religion, or chivalry

ballad poem (a type of narrative poetry) a simple narrative poem, meant to be recited or sung; a song which tells a story

lyric poem originally songs to be sung; short poetry which expresses the thoughts, experiences, feelings, or emotions of the poet; includes ode, elegy, sonnet, song, epigram, dirge, and simple

ode poem (a type of lyric poetry) a lyric poem which expresses praise or great enthusiasm for someone or something

elegy poem (a type of lyric poetry) a lyric poem which is about death or expresses grief for the dead

sonnet poem (a type of lyric poetry) a lyric poem with a special form; it is a complete poem of 14 lines, usually written in iambic pentameter

song poem (a type of lyric poetry) a fairly short lyric poem which is intended to be sung

epigram poem (a type of lyric poetry) a very short poem which is polished, condensed, and pointed; often ends with a surprising or witty thought

dirge poem (a type of lyric poetry) expresses grief on the occasion of death; short and usually sung

simple lyric poem (a type of lyric poetry) a lyric poem which does not fit one of the other types

diamante poem seven lines forming a diamond lines 1 & 7 contain opposite nouns lines 2 & 6 each contain two ‘ing’ verbs referring to the closest noun lines 3 & 5 each contain three adjectives that refer to the closest noun

diamante poem line 4 contains four nouns – the first two relate to the noun in line 1; the final two relate to the noun in line 7

acrostic poem begins with a word, name or message written vertically; the poem is based on this subject; the first word of each line begins with one of the letters in the vertical subject

clerihew poem a humorous 4-line poem about a celebrity or historical figure; line 1 ends with the person’s name; line 2 rhymes with line 1; lines 3 and 4 rhyme

cinquain poem a 5-line poem on any subject; it follows the syllable pattern 2,4,6,8,2

limerick poem usually tells of an absurd experience and ends humorously; lines 1, 2, and 5 rhyme; lines 3 and 4 rhyme

tanka poem Japanese poetry, on any subject; five lines; follows the syllable pattern 5, 7, 5, 7, 7