Forms of Poetry

The Haiku From the Japanese culture Combines form, content, and language Themes often focus on nature, feelings or experiences

The Haiku Structure consists of 3 lines, with 5 syllables in the first and third line and 7 syllables in the second line Haikus do not rhyme The challenge in a haiku is to paint an image in the reader’s mind with only 17 syllables

The Haiku An old silent pond… A frog jumps into the pond, Splash! Silence again. By Basho

The Haiku Over the wintry Forest, winds howl in rage With no leaves to blow. By Soseki

The Limerick A five line poem named after an Irish town Limericks are meant to be funny, with the last line containing the punch line or heart of the joke Rhythm is especially important in a limerick

The Limerick The limerick has a rhyme scheme of AABBA The first, second, and fifth lines all rhyme and must contain 3 beats The third and fourth lines rhyme and must contain 2 beats

The Limerick A flea and a fly in a flue Were caught, so what could they do? Said the fly, “Let us flee.” “Let us fly,” said the flea. So they flew through a flaw in the flue

The Limerick There once was a pauper named Meg Who accidentally broke her leg She slipped on the ice Not one, but thrice Take no pity on her, I beg

The Villanelle Poetry with a complicated structure Utilizes rhyme and repetition to create rhythm and build meaning. 19 line poem made up of five tercets (3 line stanzas) and a final quatrain (4 line stanza)

The Villanelle The villanelle has a complicated rhyme scheme that incorporates repeated lines throughout the poem A1BA2 ABA1 ABA2 ABA1 ABA2 ABA1A2 A1 and A2 are lines that are repeated exactly in various parts of the play and that rhyme with the other A lines

Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas Old age should burn and rave at close of day; Rage, rage against the dying of the light. Though wise men at their end know dark is right, Because their words had forked no lightning they Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,

Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight, And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way, Do not go gentle into that good night, Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay, Rage, rage against the dying of the light. And you, my father, there on that sad height, Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.