Kinds of Poems

Poetry refers to pieces of literature written in verses or meter to express various emotions via various techniques such as similes, metaphors and onomatopoeia. Rhymes, meter, repetition, etc. are used in poetry style of writing and it is these additions that differentiate poetry from prose. Poetry itself is a vast subject that comprises various kinds of poems. The list of different kinds of poetry is extensive and it is not possible to delve on each one in detail. However, let's have a look at some common types.

Different Types of Poems

Ballad Poem
These are those poems that narrate a story, like in a folk tale and often has repeated refrain. It is mostly centered around love and is sung. In simple words, it's a story expressed in poetic form.

Sonnet
Derived from Occitan and Italian words meaning 'little song', sonnets are short 14 line poems. Sonnets usually have one or more rhyme scenes. People who write sonnets are oft referred to as sonneteers. The famous William Shakespeare has 154 sonnets to his credit.

Limerick
Limericks are funny five line poems, wherein, the last words of the first, second and fifth line rhyme with one another. Moreover, the last words of the middle third and fourth line rhyme with each other. The famous Edward Lear in his Book of Nonsense included this form of poetry.

Epitaph
A commemorative inscription or short text on a tomb written to honor and praise a deceased person is termed as epitaph. People either prepare their own epitaphs before dying or have their loved ones choose one for their tombstone after they are dead. The famous poet W.B Yeats composed his own epitaph.

Acrostic
This type of poem comprises the first letters of each line forming a word or message relating to the subject. The word formed is usually the subject of the poem. Acrostics poems are often used as mnemonic devices to aid memory retrieval.

Haiku
Form of Japanese poetry that dwells on nature and feelings. The poet uses his or her observational skills to write what he or she observes in a new, innovative manner. Haiku poems are three line poems with 5 syllables in the first line, 7 in the second line and 5 in the third line. With just three lines, the poet expresses his or her emotion to the reader. These three lines do not rhyme.

Cinquain
Invented by the American poet, Adelaide Crapsey, cinquain poems are five line poems. These five lines do not rhyme with one another, however, contain fixed number of syllables in each line. The first line contains one or two syllables, the second line contains 2 - 4 syllables, the third line contains 6 syllables, the fourth line contains 8 syllables and the last fifth line contains two syllables.

Epic Poem
These poems are long, serious, narrative poems that pertain to heroic acts significant to a nation or culture or race. They depict a heroic figures journey and the struggles faced to bring honor to the nation. These heroes are mythological figures. Some of the most significant example of epic poetry are Homer's Iliad and Odyssey and the great Indian epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Allegory
Allegory is a narrative having hidden meanings. The reader has to read between the lines to understand an allegory. The story expressed through the poem will have two meanings, with the obvious literal one and the hidden symbolic one. The hidden or underlying meaning will have a moral to it.

Besides the above mentioned kinds of poems, there are so many more different kinds of poetry such as epigram, free verse, dark poetry, nursery rhyme, couplet, minnesang, pantoum, sestina, etc. The list is an extensive one. However, irrespective of the kind of poetry and poems, poems in general are a delight to the soul!