Types of Poetry

Haiku

    Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry.

Haiku is 1 stanza that has 3 lines. Line 1 and 3 have 5 syllables. Line 2 has 7 syllables. The lines usually do not rhyme.

Here is a haiku to help you remember: 

I am first with five Then seven in the middle - Five again to end.

Often, they are written about a scene from nature, such as the seasons or animals.

Limerick

    A limerick is a silly poem, that often doesn’t make much sense. It is a single stanza poem that has 5 verses Line 1, 2, and 5 rhyme with each other and usually have the same number of syllables (8 or 9).

Line 3 and 4 rhyme with each other and usually have the same number of syllables (5 or 6).

The rhyming pattern looks like this: AA BB A

 Limericks frequently begin with: "There once was a..." ; or "There was a...”. For example: 

There once was a wonderful star Who thought she would go very far Until she fell down And looked like a clown She knew she would never go far.

Free Verse

    It is the simplest, yet one of the most challenging types of poetry.

It often doesn’t follow the structure of other poems, instead the poet carefully chooses his or her words, so that the poem is beautiful and meaningful.

The poet might choose short, powerful words that sound like the feeling or idea he or she wants to share with the reader. For example: 

Cut, bash, stop, kick, lick, bite, punch, jump, stick

These words show the reader excitement, fear, or anger.

 Longer words with soft sounds guide the reader to slow down. They can show pause, tension, laziness, or rest. For example:

Thrill Ride

Up. Up.

Click, click.

Wind blows sharp in my ears.

My heart jumps. Skips.

It’s up. It’s up higher.

It’s up, up the highest.

Hands grasp at the clouds.

Then a forever pause. Still. Waiting.

Finally. Whoosh!

Steep drop down, down, down.

  The short words move quickly as you read them. In the middle, the longer words at the top of the coaster - pause before the drop, actually force your reading to slow! The repetition of the word “up” creates a jolt or rising feeling. This poem needs an ending. How would you finish this poem?