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A poem in which the first letter of each line spells out a word, name, or phrase when read vertically.
A poem that explains the “art of poetry,” or a meditation on poetry using the form and techniques of a poem.
Verse that emphasizes nonlinguistic elements, such as a typeface that creates a visual image of the topic.
A brief hymn or song of lamentation and grief; it is typically composed to be performed at a funeral.
A poem in which an imagined speaker addresses a silent listener, usually not the reader.
A long narrative poem in which a heroic protagonist engages in an action of great mythic or historical significance.
Non-metrical, non-rhyming lines that closely follow the natural rhythms of speech.
Verse in the tradition of Theocritus (3 BCE), who wrote idealized accounts of shepherds and their loves living simple, virtuous lives.
A Japanese verse form of three non-rhyming lines in five, seven, and five syllables.
A traditionally bawdy and irreverent light-verse form of five generally anapestic lines.
A formal, often ceremonious lyric poem that addresses and celebrates a person, place, thing, or idea.
A French-origin genre of long narrative poetry about medieval courtly culture and secret love.
A Korean verse form comprised of three lines of 14-16 syllables each for a total of 44-46 syllables.
A 14-line poem with a variable rhyme scheme. Its types include the Petrarchan, the Italian, and the English (or Shakespearean).
