Genres of Poetry

• Haiku--> a form of Japanese verse consisting of 17 syllables in 3 lines each consisting of 5-7-5 syllables. Haiku's are basically written on nature.

• Senryu--> same as Haiku. Senryu's are basically writen on human nature.

• Tanka--> a form of Japanese verse consisting of 31 syllables in 5 lines each consisting of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables.

• Diamante--> a form of Japanese verse consisting of 7 lines formed in the shape of a diamond.

1st line: 1 word (a noun)
2nd line: 2 words (adjectives)
3rd line: 3 words (3- ing words)
4th line: 4 words (nouns or a phrase of 5 words)
5th line: 3 words (3- ing words)
6th line: 2 words (adjectives)
7th line: 1 word (noun

• Acrostic--> A poem that has a word down the side. The poem has to be about the word that you have chosen.

• Cameo--> A poem with the following rules:

line 1 = 2 syllables;
line 2 = 5;
line 3 = 8;
line 4 = 3;
line 5 = 8;
line 6 = 7;
line 7 = 2

• Whitney--> A poem with the following rules:

line 1 = 3 syllables
line 2 = 4;
line 3 = 3;
line 4 = 4;
line 5 = 3;
line 6 = 4;
line 7 = 7.

• Limerick--> a poem with the following rules.
  

All limericks must start with line one,
Which rhymes with line two just for fun.
Line three rhymes with four,
But wait – there is more.
Lone five rhymes with two, then you’re done.

• Couplet--> A couplet seems simple, only two lines that rhyme.

• Pirouette--> each line can be of only six syllables and cannot rhyme. The 5th line and the 6th line must be exactly the same and must be separated by at least one or two spaces.

• Quatrain--> four line stanzas of any kind, rhymed, metered, or otherwise.

• Cinquain--> there are 3 formats of Cinquain poetry.

1st format: Line1: One word

Line2: Two words

Line 3: Three words

Line 4: Four words

Line 5: One word

2nd format: Line1: A noun

Line2: Two adjectives

Line 3: Three -ing words

Line 4: A phrase

Line 5: Another word for the noun

3rd format: Line1: Two syllables

Line2: Four syllables

Line 3: Six syllables

Line 4: Eight syllables

Line 5: Two syllables

• Triolet--> a poem with the following rules.

A
B
a - Rhymes with 1st line.
A - Identical to 1st line.
a - Rhymes with 1st line.
b - Rhymes with 2nd line.
A - Identical to 1st line.
B - Identical to 2nd line.

• Sijo-- It is a three lined poem/song with 45 syllables arranged in three lines in a 15-15 -15 pattern. Slight variations using 44 or 46 syllables are also used.

• Katauta-- a syllable count of 5-7-7.

• Sedoka-- a syllable count of 5-7-7-5-7-7.

• Sonnet-- It is a 14 lined poem in iambic pentameter  with a carefully patterned rhyme scheme.

• Blank verse-- It is unrhymed verse.