Poetry comes in many different formats. No matter which one you decide to use, your poetry will always be special. Your poetry is your own words put down on paper for the world to see, your inner most thoughts. Some may be funny, sad, short, long, rhyming, or even tell a story. No matter what you decide to write your poetry about, you will use one of these formats. You may not even think about the format at all. That’s fine. But, you should know that you do have a choice. There are other poetry formats that you can challenge yourself to try out. Who knows, you may just like it and decide to change your style of writing. There is nothing wrong with a little variety. Others will appreciate your poetry more because they don’t know what to expect from you. Your poetry will become exciting to them.

Rhyming Poetry

   This format speaks for itself. Rhyming poetry creates a rhythm that the reader follows by using words that rhyme (sound alike). This type of poetry format is a lot of fun to write and is one of my favorites.

   Can you make a poem rhyme?

   Can you make it sound like mine?

   Can you do it, in the nick of time?

   Write it about anything, that’s fine.

Free Verse

   If you do not like taking the time to make your words rhyme, then this is the poetry format for you. This format give you the freedom to express yourself with no worries about structure. Although, some poets do give their free verse poetry a sort of rhythm.

   The night dew creeps in like a cat–

   softly, quietly, and unnoticed.

   It goes in a different manner–

   rising slowly before the sun, for every eye to see.

   It mimics the fog.

Limericks 

   Limericks are poems in the form of very short stories, usually funny or silly. They always have five lines.

   There was a young woman who never did smile,

   her frown begin to grow, until it covered a full mile.

   When it grew so long that she couldn’ t see it anymore,

   She exclaimed, “Good Riddance!”

   Because she had never needed it before.

Narrative Poems

   Narrative poems tell stories. They are longer than most poems and can rhyme, but don’t always. They may create a rhythm, and they may have the same number of syllables, or the stanzas might have the same number of lines. Here are two great examples of narrative poems, by the famous Edgar Allan Poe.

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFy7XidbnKw

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5d-CMqhTKE

Haiku

   The haiku poem was invented in Japan. It is a short poem which often involves nature, and the simple observations around us. A haiku consists of three lines which do not rhyme, in a format of five, seven, and five syllables. It has a total of 17 syllables altogether. If you are not sure about the syllables in a word, then use your dictionary for a reference.

   Today I awoke,

   and tomorrow I may not,

   for you never know.

Concrete Poems

   Concrete poems are poems that form a picture of what the poem is about. They are fun to read, but can be a challenge to write. Here is a fun place to write your own concrete poems and you can even print it out when you are done.

   http://www.wild-about-woods.org.uk/elearning/concretepoetry/

 Humorous Poems

Humorous poems are poems that make you laugh with silly stories, crazy rhymes, goofy words, or are about unusual subjects of all kinds.

   When you grow up and have kids of your own,

   I hope they are just like you, and stay on the phone.

   I hope they nag you about every little thing there is,

   even when their drink has too much fizz.

   I hope they stay up late and leave your house a mess,

   wreck your hair and stain your favorite dress.

   I hope they talk back every chance they get,

   just so maybe, you will feel one ounce of regret.

   I hope they never hear anything you say,

   never do what you tell them, and turn your hair gray.

   I hope they pretend they can’t do anything, just to get out of work,

    and bring home their favorite friends, the ones who turn them into a jerk!

   I hope they talk bad about you behind your back,

   and get even happier when you’re about to crack.

   I hope they take all your money when you go out to shop for yourself,

   leave you without hairspray, makeup, and no toilet paper on your shelf.

   I hope they wait until the last minute to tell you they have a project due,

   and expect you to help them, by doing it the whole night through.

   I hope they pretend they don’t know you, when you call their name at the mall,

   and walk right on by you, when you see them in their school hall.

   I hope they make you come in and get them, when you pick them up from a school function,

   then run to their room, the no parents allowed junction.

   I hope they jump all over your freshly made bed,

   and never put the tie back on your bread.

   I hope they drive you totally insane,

   then you will know what it was like to be your mother,

   who did it all for love, and never did complain.