Types of Poetry
COUPLET: Is a pair of lines that rhyme. The couplet may be complete in itself or may
be part of a longer poem.
The artist stirred some blue and green
To paint an underwater scene.
HAIKU: Is an unrhymed poem consisting of three lines and seventeen syllables. A haiku
often describes something in nature
The autumn wind blows,
Calling the leaves on the ground
To join him in dance.
CINQUAIN: Is an unrhymed, five-line poem. Each line has a set number of words or syllables
and a specific function.
Word Number Example/Pattern
Butterflies 1 word
Gentle creatures 2 words
Fluttering, searching, landing 3 words
Lovely flashes of light 4 words
Miracles 1 word
Syllable Example/Pattern (Most Common Form)
Puppies 2 syllables
Fuzzy, playful 4 syllables
Running, eating, chewing 6 syllables
Tennis balls, toys, beds, shoes, leashes 8 syllables
Loving 2 syllables
LIMERICK: Is a humorous five-line poem. It is made up of thirteen beats and has a
rhyme scheme of AABBA.
There was a young boy from Caboo,
Who had trouble tying his shoe.
He said to his ox,
“I’ll just walk in my socks.”
Now all of his friends do that too!
QUATRAIN: Is a four-line poem. Its rhyme scheme may be AABB, ABAB, ABBA, for ABCB.
Quatrains are often combined to form a long poem.
A fresh patch of snow
Tiny snowflakes all aglow
Soft and smooth as silk
Icy white as milk
