P OETRY Types of Poetry

H AIKU Japanese poem of 3 lines, consisting of a total of 17 syllables. Strictly speaking the syllables should be split into lines like this This type of poem does not rhyme. Often has references to nature, but you don’t necessarily have to stick to that. As a rule, if you write a haiku, make it 3 lines and 17 syllables total. Try to keep the syllables per line as close to as possible for extra marks.

F REE V ERSE Does not rhyme. Can be any length. Does not keep to any rhythm that generally goes along with rhyming. This is the most free form of poetry. There are a great deal fewer restrictions than with other forms.

R HYMING V ERSE Can be any length but is most often an even number of lines. There are, however, poems where odd numbers of lines might rhyme. In many cases this type of poem will be split into verses or stanzas of an even number of lines. There is usually a rhythm that comes from the stressed syllables in these poems. The rhyming lines can be set up however you like. You can rhyme 2 in a row, every second, every third, or you can make it more complicated if you like.

S ONG L YRICS Songs can be poetry too. There are songs that can be read as poetry and poems that have been put to music. Often has verses which follow a similar form and then the chorus can be a different form. The bridge is likely to be different again. If you are feeling creative you can play with this form as well. If you choose to do song lyrics as poetry you are not expected to put them to music! Unless you really want to.

S ONNET Shakespeare often wrote this form of poetry. A sonnet is 14 lines and should be in iambic pentameter which means every second syllable is stressed (duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH). There are several rhyming patterns you can use. The most well-known is the Shakespearian sonnet. This is described at a-sonnet.html a-sonnet.html There are generally more rules but I would be happy to see you following just those above.

N ARRATIVE P OEM The main rule with this type of poem is that it has to tell a story. It is a little similar to writing a short story. A narrative poem can rhyme and can include a meter (ie. Rhythm) but doesn’t have to. Can be short or long but has to be long enough to tell a story. For an explanation and example try Narrative-Peom < there is a typo in the actual URL. Narrative-Peom

H AVE F UN W ITH T HIS Don’t stress out about writing poetry. You’re writing two different drafts but only redrafting one. It would be great if you could try something a bit more challenging for the second poem! Try to use what you’ve learned through your analysis when writing your poetry. What sort of language brought about what emotions? Word choice is important. Believe it or not poetry can be fun. Try to enjoy writing your poems.