Defining Poetry

Before you begin to name certain types of poetry, you must first define poetry so that the person reading it clearly understands what the meaning is. I personally love poetry and not only do I read it , I often pick up a pen and write it. Poetry expresses different types of emotion and is a piece of literature written by a poet in either meter or verse. You say to yourself what is a meter or verse? My definition will explain to you the meaning of what we are discussing.

A "Meter" is defined as an exact arangement of syllables arranged in repeated patterns called feet within a line. These are regular rhythms of language in which the accents occur at equal intervals in time. Each meter that is repeated is called a foot.

A "Verse" is simply a single line of metrical poetry.

copyright 2008

Poetry has a structure which is used in poem verses and consists of elements which include, couplet, strophe and stanza. Poets combine language and structure to create there masterpiece.

Although there are many types of Poetry and there are a vast amount of writers of poetry , the list I am about to give does not even touch the many types that are out there. This is only a small compilation and are my five favorites that I have enjoyed through the years.

Limericks: Limericks are short humorous poems that always consist of 5 lines. "Edward Lear" a famous Limerick writer was well known for some of these. If you choose to read some of his humor my recommendation is www.limericks.com as there you will get your belly full with his writings.

Romanticism: John Keats and Lord Byron two of my favorites wrote this type of poetry in the early 18th and 19th centuries. Absolutely beautiful and thought through as these gentleman were apparently a ladies' man of there time. On the internet you will find there biographies as well as some of there most famous writings. www.john-keats.com and for the famous Lord Byron you can go to www.pronto.com if you wish to read a romantic verse or two.

Rhymes: Rhymes are a type of poem which has repetition of the same similiar sounds for example, "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall," Humpty Dumpty had a great fall" . This technique is simple and has been used in many nursery rhymes throughout the centuries.

ABC Poems: An ABC Poem has a series of lines that create a mood,picture or feeling, the lines are made up of the words that begin with the alphabet. First Line" A" second Line "B" etc. they are easy to write and compose and they can consist of an array of feelings and emotions.

Sonnets: Sonnets are lyric poems that are 14 lines long falling into there coordinated quatrains and a concluding couplet at which all who loves poetry is quite familiar with Shakespeare and his writings.