Learn Poetic Forms

Written By Shannon Mulder

Welcome to the wonderful world of poetry! Whether you're a passionate poet or just getting started, this guide will introduce you to a variety of poetic forms, link you to fantastic learning resources, and inspire you with a list of amazing poets to explore. 🌟

🎭 Types of Poetry

🕊️ Free Verse

  • Poetry without strict rules, rhyme, or rhythm.

  • Allows full freedom of expression.

  • Great example: Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass.

💘 Sonnet

  • 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme.

  • Shakespearean (ABABCDCDEFEFGG) or Petrarchan (ABBAABBACDCDCD).

🎶 Limerick

  • Funny five-line poem with an AABBA rhyme scheme.

  • Often silly and playful.

🌄 Haiku

  • A 3-line poem from Japan with a 5-7-5 syllable structure.

  • Captures nature or a moment in time.

🔥 Spoken Word / Slam Poetry

  • Meant to be performed, not just read.

  • Emotional, personal, and powerful.

🐉 Narrative Poetry

  • Tells a story with characters, plot, and setting.

  • Think of it like a short story in verse.

🌙 Elegy

  • A reflective poem mourning a person or loss.

  • Often thoughtful and emotional.

🏹 Ode

  • A lyrical poem praising a person, event, or object.

  • Often formal and expressive.

📚 Poets to Explore

Here’s a list of poets (classic and contemporary) to get you inspired:

  • 🧠 Emily Dickinson – Short, powerful poems about life and death.

  • 🎭 William Shakespeare – Master of the sonnet.

  • 🌻 Mary Oliver – Beautiful nature and mindfulness poetry.

  • 🎤 Amanda Gorman – Powerful spoken word and activism.

  • 💥 Langston Hughes – Jazz-inspired rhythm and racial justice.

  • 🔮 Sylvia Plath – Emotional, vivid, and personal.

  • 🔥 Rupi Kaur – Modern free verse with striking imagery.

  • 🌍 Benjamin Zephaniah – Political, rhythmic, and bold.

  • 🌙 Carol Ann Duffy – Witty, feminist, and thought-provoking.

  • 🌊 Ocean Vuong – Lyrical, queer, and beautiful.

🎉 Now go explore, create, and enjoy the rhythm of words! 🎉

Shannon Mulder
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The Poet’s Toolkit