10 Types of Poems (And Why They’re Cooler Than You Think)

Janeth
3 days ago
4 min read

Poetry isn’t just something you read in dusty old books or analyze in school. It’s a vibrant, expressive art form that can be funny, romantic, dramatic—or all three at once. Whether it’s a quick haiku or a sweeping epic, poetry has a way of capturing emotions and ideas in just a few lines (or a few hundred).

In this guide, we’ll explore 10 different types of poems, from the structured elegance of a sonnet to the raw energy of spoken word. Each one has its own flavor, and who knows—you might just find your new favorite way to express yourself.

10 Types of Poems

Haiku

The winter is cold

I sit in front of the fire

Again I am warm

Short, sweet, and straight from Japan, the haiku is a three-line poem with a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. It doesn’t rhyme, but it packs a punch—often focusing on nature or a fleeting moment. Think of it as poetry’s version of a snapshot.

Ballad

Light do I see within my Lady’s eyes

And loving spirits in its plenisphere

Which bear in strange delight on my heart’s care

Till Joy’s awakened from that sepulchre.

—“Ballata 5,” Guido Cavalcanti

Before ballads were slow songs on the radio, they were poems meant to be sung. Ballads often tell dramatic, romantic tales—perfect for serenading or storytelling by firelight.

Imagery

First was I to e’er spot land,

My voice the first to yell,

Aye, first to sight the skull and bone,

And raise the warning bell.

—“A Crow’s Command,” Gregory R Barden

As the name suggests, imagery poetry aims to paint a picture on the reader’s mind. Moreover, it intends to trigger the senses of the reader by using only words.

Limerick

The lion is wondrous strong

And full of the wiles of wo;

And whether he pleye

Or take his preye

He cannot do but slo (slay)

Limericks are the jokesters of the poetry world. They’re five lines long, follow an AABBA rhyme scheme, and usually tell a funny or quirky little story. Bonus points if it makes someone giggle.

Epic

Anu granted him the totality of knowledge of all.

He saw the Secret, discovered the Hidden,

he brought information of (the time) before the Flood.

He went on a distant journey, pushing himself to exhaustion,

but then was brought to peace.

He carved on a stone stela all of his toils, and built the wall of Uruk-Haven,

the wall of the sacred Eanna Temple, the holy sanctuary.

—Epic of Gilgamesh

Epics are the blockbusters of poetry—long, dramatic, and full of heroic deeds. These poems were originally passed down orally and often feature gods, monsters, and brave warriors. Think The Odyssey or The Iliad.

Elegy

Strong Son of God, immortal Love,

Whom we, that have not seen thy face,

By faith, and faith alone, embrace,

Believing where we cannot prove;

—“In Memoriam A.H.H.,” Lord Alfred Tennyson

Elegies are poems of mourning, written to honor someone who has passed away. They’re often reflective, emotional, and deeply personal. Not to be confused with eulogies (spoken tributes), though they sometimes overlap.

Free verse

Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets,

The muttering retreats

Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels

And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells:

—“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock,” T. S. Eliot

Free verse is poetry without the rules. No rhyme, no strict rhythm—just pure expression. Instead of rhymes, the beat depends on alliteration or assonance. Alliteration is the use of words that have the same beginning sounds, while assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds. Free verse is a more contemporary form of poetry and was created with the intention of making poetry less restrictive.

Sonnet

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

—“Sonnet 18,” William Shakespeare

The sonnet is Shakespeare’s poetry of choice. Its form originated in Italy and was also used by Dante Alighieri. Sonnets come in various forms, but the Shakespearean sonnet has 14 lines, which starts with alternating rhymes and ends with two rhyming lines, known as a rhyming couplet. Like ballads, sonnets often deal with love but tell the tale of the lover’s suffering.

Didactic

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

—“If,” Rudyard Kipling

Didactic poems are here to teach you something—whether it’s a life lesson, a moral, or a bit of wisdom. They’re like poetic pep talks or philosophical guides.

Spoken Word

Let the young men be just young men, and not my heart forever swinging

Let the water be just water and not the vast loneliness

Let the driftwood be driftwood

Let the bay be unnamed

Let the sunset not be my time running out

But only the hour of the day

Only an indication that the bugs will soon be out

That the young men will pull on their sweatshirts

That I . . .

Should be heading home.

—“Useless Bay,” Sarah Kay

Spoken word poetry is more of a performance art rather than a poetry form, in its strictest sense. Any poem delivered orally, with emphasis on voice inflection, intonation, and word play, may be considered spoken word.

Final Thoughts

Poetry comes in many shapes and styles, each with its own charm. Whether you’re drawn to the structure of a sonnet or the freedom of free verse, there’s a type of poem out there for everyone. So go ahead—try writing one, or just enjoy the beauty of words well-crafted.

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10 Types of Poems (And Why They’re Cooler Than You Think)

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