5 different forms of poetry for budding poets to explore
When it comes to literary creative expression, poetry definitely stands out. From the sonnets of yesteryear, to today’s popular short Instagram poetry, the art form has gone through several changes over the course of the last few centuries. Nevertheless, it has a unique ability to retain its evergreen nature, because at its core, it is an expression of human emotion and thought. For kids with a keen interest in poetry, here are different types to explore.
Haiku
Haiku, also referred to as hokku sometimes, is an ancient form of poetry hailing from Japan. Its characteristic feature is its conciseness and short size. A haiku is made up of only 3 lines, wherein the first and last consist of 5 syllables each while the second one consists of 7. Such poems focus on evoking a particular mood and do not generally tend to rhyme.
Sonnet
This style of poetry was made popular by one of the most well-known names in literary history, William Shakespeare. Derived from the Italian word ‘sonnetto’ which means ‘little song’, it originated in the 13th century. There are two types of sonnets: the Italian sonnet and the English sonnet. The former usually follows the ABBA ABBA CDE CDE rhyme scheme while the latter follows the ABAB CDCD EFEF GG scheme. Both, however, consist of 14 lines and usually deal with themes related to love.
Ode
Regarded to be one of the oldest forms of poetry, the ode finds its origins in Ancient Greece. Such poems had a sense of musicality to them and hence, were paired with a musical instrument. Generally quite short in length, they were written as praise for someone or something.
Free verse
Free verse is a relatively modern form of poetry. Unlike its older counterparts, there is no binding structure or rhyme scheme which it has to adhere to. As the name suggest, there is plenty of freedom for the poet to experiment with this form. It may or may not follow or rhyme scheme, and the poet chooses how long or short it is. However, the lack of structure can also make it trickier to write the poem.
Limerick
Limericks became popular in the 19th century, all thanks to Edward Lear. What makes them unique is their humorous content which can sometimes end up being slightly rude too, with the last line being the punchline. They follow a set structure- 5 lines out of which the first, second and fifth lines being longer in length than the third and fourth ones. Moreover, they adhere to the AABBA rhyme scheme.