PoetrySubcategories

Nursery RhymesFun, usually short poemsWritten for children, often for bedtimeMother Goose was the first collection (unsure

if existed)Sometimes written for adults to secretly

make fun of rulers or document history

Limerick

Short humorous poemUsually 5 linesBegins with “There once was…”Rumored to have been created in Ireland in

the city of the same nameBegan around the 18th/19th centuryHas a specific beat and rythm

Example

There once was a young man named DeanWho loved to eat peaches ice creamOne day he found outThat they were all outAnd it made him so mad he could scream

HaikuA short poem of Japanese originUses imagery to describe nature, usually a

particular seasonTraditionally has three lines and seventeen

syllablesFormat: 5

7 5

Example

The sun takes its bowA myriad of colorsFading to shadows

Narrative PoemA story told in poem formatUsually rhymesOldest form (sung by bards)Longest form

Ex.- “Paul Revere’s Last Ride”

Lyric PoemDescribes feelings and ideasUsually shorter than narrative verseMust rhyme and have a distinct rhythmMost common form

Free VerseHas no set length or rhyme schemeCan have a rhythm (beat)Has no rules!The most modern form of poetry

Ex. List poems

EpitaphAn inscription carved on a tombstoneUsually humorous and shortThink The Haunted Mansion in DisneyUsually begins with “Here Lies…”

Shape Poem•A poem in the shape of its subject

Poetry BookWrite the type and its definition on a pageEach one has their own page except:

Narrative, Lyric, and Free Verse (on one page together)

Create an example for each (except the ones above, pick one of them)

Have an illustration for your exampleBe Creative!