Poetry Forms

Prose prescriptive, having demands, restraints, rule and structures poetry can be said to
contain much of these qualities an indication of an over-idealised notion of poetry.
Awareness of form is crucial to be able to talk about poetry at all. Without this poetry cannot be
recognised as poetry.
Narrative poems tell a story can often be too long. It often employs the use of different voices
and include different characters. Introduce a more complex element to poetry than simple
humorous limericks and riddles, useful in engaging children through their story like nature.
Descriptive poems demonstrates effective use of many literary techniques: similes;
metaphors; alliteration; rhyme.
Rap hip hop are examples of performance poetry (similar to song lyrics and jingles).

Poetry Forms
Nursery Rhymes
A simple traditional song or poem for children. Very young children are capable of
responding to rhyme and rhythm through clapping and rocking long before they
can articulate language (WEA, 2013)
ck
o
: ory D ttle
s
le ick
Li
p
e
am ry D inkl
x
E ko
Tw
c
i
e
H nkl
ice
i
M
y eep
d
t
Tw r
n
p
h
li
Sta ee B Dum ck S
r
a
Th mpty h Bl
Hu h Bla
Bla

Poetry Forms
Rhyming Poems
A repetition in two or more words of a poem, usually the final syllables at the end
of a line.
s: ghts
e
l
p hou er
m
a
T
Ex ppy umm ath
H
Ha in S ays
d
Be rty D ber
i
Th tem Rise
p
Se e to
Tim

Poetry Forms

Free Verse Poems: Monologue; Conversation; List

Free verse poems have no set metre to them, allowing for freedom of expression due to
no particular structure
Monologue
List
Conversation
A poem in which a single person
A list poem is made up of a long
An apparently free-flowing,
speaks alone
list. They usually have a list in
personal meditation, centred on
the middle plus a few lines at
or addressed to someone dear to
Examples:
the beginning/end: Beginning;
the poet.
Alone
List, List, List, End. Start with a
No Longer
basic frame e.g. mouse, house,
Examples:
Busy
cat, hat, for example and then
Conversation (Ai, 1999)
add in detail.
Conversation (Rosen)
No Longer
Because I need you,
I no longer need me.
Because you love me,
I no longer love myself.
I praise you,
Because I am yours.

Im just going out for a moment.

Why?
To make a cup of tea.
Why?
Because Im thirsty.
Why?
Because its hot.
Why?
Because the suns shining.
Why?
Because its summer.
Why?
Because thats when it is.
Why?
Why dont you stop saying why?
Why?

I also see something that looks

like a house,
A monkey, a meerkat, a minx
and a mouse,
A laptop computer, a boat and a
cat,
An old pair of glasses, a coat and
a hat.

Poetry Forms
Acrostic

An acrostic poem is a type of poetry where the first, last or other letters in a line spell out a particular
word or phrase

s:
e
l
m p rs
a
Ex nste r
Mo me
m
Su ter
s
Ea

Poetry Forms

Visual Poems: calligram; shape; concrete.

Visual poems have an array of arrangements of text, images and symbols, which help
convey the intended effect.
Concrete
Shape
Calligram (beautiful writing)
The use of words and lines to
A shape poem is a type of
Concrete poems are poems
form poems, sometimes the
poetry, which describes an
written into a shape
shape is related to the structure
object and appears to be shaped
of the poem.
like that particular object.
For example:
For example:
For example:
If a poem was linked to the sea,
the words may appear shaky

Shaky

Poetry Forms
Structured Poems

The following poems are structured poems

Cinquain
Quatrain
Couplets
Limerick
Kennings
Haiku
Tanka
Renga
Ballads

Poetry
Forms
2, 4, 6, 8,
2, 4, 6, 8, 2
Cinquain Poems

Cinquain poems are five lines long, having only a few words on each line. The first and last lines have
2 syllables, while the middle lines have more, leaving the appearance to look diamond like.
All cinquain poems follow this syllable format: Line2 (4); Line 3(6); Line 4(8)

My Mum
My mum
Is so caring
She is always helpful
She is so beautiful and kind
Love you.

Poetry Forms
Quatrain Poems

Quatrain poems are four lines long, often containing an alternating rhyme.
For example: ABAB

Lord of Deceit
Trapped within a haze of fear,
The Lord of Lies does appear.
Clouded by so much thats
wrong, Truth gets twisted by
his song

Poetry Forms
Couplets
Couplets usually comprise of two lines that have the same rhyme or metre. They must have the
same or similar rhythm.

Example:
My favourite thing to do is
play,
This is how I will spend my
day.

Poetry Forms
Limerick
Limericks can be fun poems with a strong beat. They are very light-hearted and can often be utter
nonsense.
They consist of 5 lines. Line 1 usually begins There was a and ends with a name,
person or place (noun). The last line of a limerick is normally a little unusual.
Limericks have the rhyme scheme AABBA. Lines 1, 2 and 5 rhyme (have between 7 and 10
syllables), and lines 3 and 4 rhyme (have between 5 and 7 syllables.

Poetry Forms
Kennings
A kennings poem is a 2 word phrase describing an object, often using a metaphor. It is a riddle
made up of several lines of kennings to describe someone/something.
My Sister
Dummy-sucker
Teddy-thrower
Anything-chewer
Kiss-giver
Slave-employer
Dolly-hugger
Calm-destroyer
Milk-drinker
Nappy-leaker
Peace-breaker
Scream-shrieker
Unlike any other
My sister

5, 7, 5 Poetry Forms
5, 7, 5

Haiku

A Japanese poem, 3 lines long, consisting of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables.

Forms
5, 7, 5,Poetry
7, 7
5, 7, 5, 7,

Tanka

A Japanese poem, 5 lines long, consisting of 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables, 7 syllables, 7

syllables.

Forms
5, 7, 5,Poetry
7, 7
5, 7, 5, 7,

Renga (linked poem)

Poets work in pairs/a small group taking it in turns to compose alternative two-line and three-line
stanzas collectively constructing a tanka.

Poetry Forms
Ballad Poem

A ballad is often a poem that tells a story, often used in songs because of their rhyme.
Example: