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Poetic Forms

You’ll find our articles on new & classic poetic forms here, from the sonnet to found poems & “the Pollock,” plus links to online resources & examples of the various kinds of formal poems.

Cento

Cento defined, in our glossary of poetic forms, with links to examples of poems written in cento form.

Rondeau

Rondeau defined, in our glossary of poetic forms, with links to examples of poems written in rondeau form.

Glossary of Poetic Forms

Traditional poetic forms briefly defined.

Introducing The Rothko

Bob Holman introduces his new ekphrastic poem form, the Rothko: “Call ‘em haikus. Naw, call ‘em Rothkos, I thought, and make ‘em rectangles like the paintings. And get those colors in there while you’re at it...”

Triolet

The triolet defined, in our glossary of poetic forms.

Abecedarian Poem

Abecedarian poem defined, in our glossary of poetic forms.

Acrostic Poem

Acrostic poem defined, in our glossary of poetic forms.

Fibonacci Poems

All you need to know about Fibonacci poems, a new math-based poetic form that is proliferating on the Internet, by Georgia Luna Smith Faust.

Terza Rima

Terza rima defined, in our glossary of poetic forms.

Ghazal

The ghazal defined, in our glossary of poetic forms.

Haiku

Haiku defined, in our glossary of poetic forms

Sestina

The sestina defined, in our glossary of poetic forms

Villanelle

The villanelle defined, in our glossary of poetic forms

Limerick

The limerick defined, in our glossary of poetic forms

Pantoum

The pantoum defined, in our glossary of poetic forms

Sonnet

The sonnet defined, in our glossary of poetic forms

Dante & the Response Poem

We’re all for Formalism, especially when you make up the forms... David Shapiro & Frank Lima create another kind of collaboration, the Response Poem.

Mathemetrics: Sparrow’s Spree

Having conquered the worm of Dirty Words in his Bad Poetry Curriculum, Sparrow, former Presidential candidate and full-time Poet Laureate of Comic Relief, has invented a new poetic form: Mathemetrics.

The Pollock: A New Poetic Form

John Yau’s “830 Fireplace Road (2)”: The Pollock takes its place beside our previous feature the Rothko as a new poetic form inspired by a painter.

The Rothko: A New Poetic Form

Call ’em haikus. Naw, call ’em Rothkos... and get those colors in there while you’re at it, like a tic-tac-toe.

SemiCento, A “Stitched Together” Poem

When the Frankfurt Buchmesse turns fifty, and Bob Holman is commissioned to write the occasional verse, voila!... the poem gathers poets from all cultures and times to say Happy Birthday, What Is a Poem?

Explore Poetry

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