When you attempt to write a poem, you initially feel slightly nervous. This is because of a general perception that people have with regards to poems, especially the classic ones. They feel that a poem is too difficult to read and too intimidating to write.

Someone might’ve told you in the past that you had misunderstood the poems recited during the English classes. You might’ve also faced certain situations where you were told that your poem was full of cliches. This usually happens because of the vastness and variety that the world of poetry has.

There are poems that you’ll fall in love with and certain types that you’ll be delighted to write. All that you require might be a quick introduction to different types of poems. Some have complicated rules, while others are quite simple. Now let’s go through some of the types of poems that are popular today:

1. Sonnet

The sonnet is what would come to your mind instantly when talking about the types of poems. It’s one of the oldest poetic forms, which originated in the 13th century in Italy. Two forms of sonnets are common and both of them have lots of rules. These two forms of sonnet are the Petrarchan and the Shakespearean. Some also call them Italian and Elizabethan respectively.

Sonnets consist of 14 lines traditionally and are mostly about romance. This includes lost love, love after marriage, forgotten love, and many others. The rhyme scheme of Petrarchan sonnets are ABBA ABBA CDE CDE, while the Shakespearean have ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

2. Haiku

The haiku is a Japanese form of poem that originated in the 17th century. It appeared famously in the writings of Matsuo Basho. As haiku are very short poems, they’ve become a favorite for school assignments and writing exercises. A haiku typically comprises 17 syllables in 3 lines.

The first line contains 5 syllables, the second line consists of 7, and the third has 5. The haiku are commonly about nature and you’ll often find a seasonal reference in them. They usually contain two juxtaposed ideas or images.

3. Ballad

Ballad would be an excellent choice if you want to read a story or tell one through a poem. It’s an old and traditional form that was passed down from one generation to the next orally. If you want to follow the rules, there are some strict rules in this type of poem.

Ballads are written in groups of four lines, known as quatrains. They follow the rhyme scheme ABAB or ABCD. The lines alternate between eight and six syllables. However, you can make whatever you want of a Ballad.

4. Free verse

This is the type of poem that’s the most liberating. It gives you the freedom to do whatever you want, as there are no rules in free verse. You don’t need to follow the regular patterns of rhyme or rhythm. There’s no need for lines of a particular length or stanzas consisting of a certain number of lines.

Although this poetic form is liberating, it also terrifies many in the poetic world. Sometimes, it can be hard to know where to begin when you want to write a poem in free verse. Nevertheless, you can give it a try!