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Traditional Poetry Forms:

  bullet   Acrostic
  bullet   Ballad
  bullet   Cinquain
  bullet   Clerihew
  bullet   Diamante
  bullet   Didactic
  bullet   Epic
  bullet   Epigram
  bullet   Epitaph
  bullet   Etheree
  bullet   Fable
  bullet   Free Verse
  bullet   Ghazal
  bullet   Haiku
  bullet   Katauta
  bullet   Kyrielle
  bullet   Kyrielle Sonnet
  bullet   Lanturne
  bullet   Limerick
  bullet   Minute Poetry
  bullet   Monody
  bullet   Monorhyme
  bullet   Naani
  bullet   Nonet
  bullet   Ode
  bullet   Ottava Rima
  bullet   Palindrome
  bullet   Pantoum
  bullet   Quatern
  bullet   Quatrain
  bullet   Quinzaine
  bullet   Rispetto
  bullet   Rondeau
  bullet   Rondel
  bullet   Rondelet
  bullet   Sedoka
  bullet   Senryu
  bullet   Septolet
  bullet   Sestina
  bullet   Shape Poetry
  bullet   Song
  bullet   Sonnet
  bullet   Tanka
  bullet   Terza Rima
  bullet   Terzanelle
  bullet   Tetractys
  bullet   Tongue Twister
  bullet   Triolet
  bullet   Tyburn
  bullet   Villanelle
 

Shape Poetry

-Shape Poetry is also associated with Concrete Poetry-

Shape is one of the main things that separate prose and poetry. Poetry can take on many formats, but one of the most inventive forms is for the poem to take on the shape of its subject. Therefore, if the subject of your poem were of a flower, then the poem would be shaped like a flower. If it were of a fish, then the poem would take on the shape of a fish. ><<<*>

Shape and Concrete Poetry go hand-in-hand; however, Concrete or Visual Poetry don’t have to take on the particular shape of the poem’s subject, but rather the wording in the poem can enhance the effect of the words such as in this line:

an angel tumbling
d
  o
    w
      n  
         to earth . . .
Designing your own shape poem can be simple and fun, but try not to pick anything that would be too difficult. We suggest mapping out or drawing your shape first, and then importing the text of your poem into your shape.


Example #1:
Birth of a Triangle

mama and papa and baby make three,
  reaching sides of a three-sided tree.
    oedipal winds rustle from leaves;
      triangular shapes converting
         dissimilarity into peeves.
           straight lines connect
             the corners turned; 
                mirrored sight
                  un-burned;
                    buried
                      am
                        i

Copyright © 2001 Alex Goldenberg

Example #2:
My Body

                             my
                           body
                              is
                              a
              walking representation
            the outward visual caption
                  of what it means
           to                                   be
                            me
                        from the
                         outside
                         looking
                             in
              at times            I hide
            from you           but mostly
            what you           see   is
            what you           will  get

Copyright © 2001 Andrea Forbing-Maglione

Example #3:
Broken Car

                 What can I do with
                a car that doesn't go
          Can I find some way to fix it
    How long will it be before I can go again
   Can the car even be fixed or is it hopeless
   I can't take a bus to work they aren't around
        Stranded                  No Money
         Damned                    Things 

Copyright © 2001 Johnathan Sluder

Example #4:
Coffee

* Shape poem and an Acrostic poem!


          Coffee mild, but  dark  as  toast. 
     O..Oh healthy cup, of robust roast,
   F.....Fresh  the smell, of  perking pot,
   F.....Flavors   senses,   while  it`s  hot.
     E.......Everlasting,  in  every  way,
          E...Every  morning, every day.

Copyright © 2001 Sally Ann Roberts

Example #5:
A Simple Tree

                      and life began
                  from a simple tree
                  starting from roots
                they spread beneath
             the earth nourishing soil
                    growing bigger
                    its trunk widens
                    strengthening
                       it begins to
                          stand
                            on
                            its
                           own
and the roots keep reaching far beyond the ground...

Copyright © 2001 Julie Wright

Example #6:
Rockets Red Glare

           I
         see
        above
       my head
      sparkling
      lights   of 
    bright colors
    Announcing
      Signaling
      Rejoicing
      Sounding
      dreaming
       calling
        to my 
        being  
       telling
      me that I
     am free of
    oppressions
   can  you  see
  what        they
 Have          Said

Copyright © 2001 Johnathan Sluder

Example #7:
Luna

You
   were my
      first dandelion
         wish, my cotton
           candy kiss, and sweet
            lullaby.  With you nested 
              in the palm of my hand, 
               we became one with the night, 
               ruling over the stars in the sky. 
               You have been my guiding light
                through sleepless nights, my 
               muse, and friend, always 
              lending a listening ear, and
            offering your soft, glowing 
          light to ease my fears.
       You are my warm,
    goodnight moon,
Luna.

Copyright © 2003 Marie Summers


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