5 Types of Poetry How to Write Them ?

There are hundreds of different types of poetry in the world, but we are going to look at just five of the most interesting ones.

1. Haiku. This type of poetry originated in Japan. It is a very unique kind of verse with rigid rules as to how to write it. It is a three line poem and always has five syllables in the first line, seven in the second line and the last line contains five syllables again. Nearly all haikus deal with nature themes, although some do exist that are written on other topics. It is a difficult type of poetry to write, but very beautiful when done right. Here is an example:

Flower bright and light,

Full of pink petals and leaves,

You are beautiful.

2. Limerick. This is a fun sort of poem. They are always humorous and often quite rude, which has made this type of poetry popular among school children. Limericks also follow a set pattern. There are five lines, with the first two rhyming with the last line. The third and fourth rhyme together. Here is an example:

There was a young girl from Nome,

Who lived in real snow dome,

One day when it thawed,

She thought it was God,

And died right there in her home

3. Acrostic. This poem offers a play on words. It features as many lines as you wish, but the first letters of the lines can be read vertically as a word. Most of the time, the author will choose the vertical word first, and then write the poem based on that. This type of poetry doesn't need to rhyme. For example, the word Love could be turned into an acrostic poem like this one:

Lightly you stepped into my life,

Only you could heal me,

Vital and strong beside me,

Even your weakness is strengthening.

4. Sonnet. This is the type of poetry that Shakespeare often wrote in his plays. It is a very carefully crafted piece of work that requires extensive thinking and preparation. The sonnet consists of three four line stanzas, plus a couplet that rhymes. It is a bit complicated and the best examples can be found in old hymns and Shakespearean plays.

5. Cinquain. This type of poetry is very interesting. It offers a set of very set rules and can be a bit tricky at first. The actual poem is shaped like an arrowhead, with one word in the first line, two words that describe the first one in the second line, then a three word line that uses verbs to describe the action of the first word, the fourth line uses four words to demonstrate the feeling of the early lines and the final line is short again, describing or relating to the first line again. Here is an example of how this works:

Camera

Sleek, metal

Clicking, taking, capturing

Happy, eager, and exciting

Perfect machine

Each type of poetry has unique rules that make it fun and set it apart. Why not try your hand at writing a new type of poetry today?