Throughout the world people are constantly writing poetry. Whether it be free-styled or following some sort of strict rules (such as say a Haiku,) people are always expressing themselves as a person. There has been many famous poets among not only our generation, but in the past as well. Many of us have probably heard of Edgar Allen Poe or perhaps E. E. Cummings. Each with a unique style which still is read by millions of readers each year.

So what makes a poem?
It's not necessarily what you place inside, because we all know that some poems are completely outrageous and silly. Instead, it's how your reader conveys what is written. While one person may interpret something written in one way, the next might come off and think something completely different.

A huge misconception with poetry is that every ending word of a line has to rhyme. This is highly not the case, and sometimes this can completely ruin a poem. So instead of trying to get something to rhyme (unless it follows a certain pattern such as aabb, etc.) just go with the flow. Things will come off so much smoother and easier for you in the end.

What should I try to include?
Most great poems include descriptive word language and word usage, which in the end makes it stand out from the more mediocre poems. Generally people try to include things such as onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance, similes/metaphors, etc. All of these combined (along with creativity) can create a rather amazing poem if you put your mind to it.

Index
I. Acrostic
II. Ballad
III. Blank Verse
IV. Cinquain
V. Clerihew
VI. Diamante
VII. Epitaph
VIII. Free Verse
IX. Haiku
X. Heroic Couplet
XI. Limerick
XII. Monody
XIII. Monorhyme
XIV. Ode
XV. Palindrome
XVI. Quatrain
XVII. Sonnet
XVIII. Tanka
XIX. Villanelle
XX. Closing

Examples
Most of the examples posted were written by myself unless I state otherwise and give credit to the original author. Not all of us are talented in every form of writing, thus I've decided that instead of giving not-so good examples, I'll post one written by a professional/decent poet.

Generally, an acrostic poem is when the first letters of each line spell a certain word. Most of the time the word is formed from the title which is given, but in some cases that isn't always the deal. They can also relate to the subject of the poem as well. It all depends on the writer and what he/she chooses to do.

Example Poem

"Night"

Ballads are generally one of the more tricky, long styles of poetry. Pretty time consuming but easy to write because they aren't exactly that far into the detailed poetry style. Generally these deal with some "legendary" concepts which could date far back. The subject manner can be of anything, but you'll most likely find them about things such as legends. A notable thing is that most ballads should be able to be sung, and that several follow the style of abcb for rhyming.

Example Poem

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The Ballad of Marian Blacktree

Refrain:
Oh, do you know the mountain road
That leads to yonder peak?
A few will walk that trail alone,
Their dreams they go to seek.

(I)
One such was Marian Blacktree,
A lowly sheperdess,
And courting her was Tom, the swain,
Who loved her nonetheless.

(II)
A thought occurred to Marian
While watching o'er her sheep,
And gazing at the mountain thus
She nodded off to sleep.

(Refrain)

(III)
That night she came to Tom and said
She longed to know the sky.
"I'm weary of this valley, love,
I want to learn to fly!"

(IV)
Poor Thomas did not want to leave,
This valley was all he knew.
So when she turned and left him there
Her heart, it broke in two.

(Refrain)

(V)
Her faithful swain did track her,
All night the trail led on,
And finally at the mountain top
He looked, but she was gone.

(VI)
As morning broke and lit the sky
An eagle he did see:
It circled 'round him thrice and cried.
He knew now she was free.

(Refrain)

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Blank verse poetry usually doesn't follow any rhythmic ending, meaning no need to rhyme at the end of every line here guys. What does set the blank verse style out is the fact that it does follow a meter, which in this case is the iambic pentameter. Since penta means five, each line will have a series of five feet. Think of it like each line goes as follows:

• ba BUM, ba BUM, ba BUM, ba BUM, ba BUM

Example Poem

Now these forms of poems aren't hard to master at all, actually in all reality they are probably one of the simplest poems to formulate and do. As long as you choose a good starting noun which you can go from, all's well. In order to write a cinquain poem, you follow any variables involving the 1-2-3-4-1 pattern (meaning it can be 2-4-6-8-2, 3-6-8-12-1, etc.) Most generally you'll find them in either the standard pattern or the first listed. There are only five lines to these poems, and no exceptions. What goes in each lines is as follows:
- A Noun
- A Description of the Noun
- An Action Made
- A Feeling/Effect From The Action
- Synonym of Line One

Example Poem

Usually a really interesting type of poem. The lines are comical and different from most, which can help it stand out on a portfolio/project of interest. Sadly, these are hardly ever used for serious projects and things based on the fact that they are humorous and don't follow a set syllable length, but they do follow the rhyming scheme of aabb. It's also to be noted that the first line always consists of the subject and nothing more. Not so hard, and if you have some time you could probably make up a few in the span of minutes.

Example Poem

In many characteristics, the Diamante styled poetry could be extremely similar to Cinquain styled poetry. The only real difference is what encompasses the interior of the poem. Again, a really simple styled poem that pretty much anyone should be able to pick up on in a matter of minutes. Unlike the cinquain, diamante is restricted to a 1-2-3-4-3-2-1 pattern. The following goes in each line:
- A Noun
- Two adjectives describing line one
- Three words ending in -ing
- The first two are about line one, the last two about the synonym/antonym
- Three words ending in -ing
- Two adjectives describing the antonym/synonym
- Antonym/synonym

Not exactly the same as a cinquain, but still a pretty interesting way to write a poem nonetheless. Give it a shot if you have some time.

Example Poem

Whether we realize it or not, most of us have generally seen an epitaph once in our life. Usually we don't write them ourselves, and sometimes they can deem to be a bit upsetting to write. Where you may ask? Well, next time you're in a graveyard feel free to poke around and read what's written on a tombstone. These poems are written in order to praise the person who has past. The lines can rhyme, but they don't have to and they don't follow any scheme.

Example Poem

Now, I know I've said this already, but this is simply the easiest poem in the world. Why? Because it's basically taking the rules of writing poetry and throwing them out the window. Sure, it shouldn't look terrible, but there is no length or schemes which you have to abide by. Unless you work better restricting yourself to a style, then this shouldn't even break a sweat for you.

Example Poem

Now we're hitting one of the more well-known poetry styles out there. Basically in the easiest ways, a Haiku is a Japanese styled poem. Usually these get thrown out there a lot, and luckily if you take one quick look at it, it isn't hard by any means. No rhyming scheme to follow, all you need to abide by is the syllable scheme of 5-7-5. If you know that, then you should do well. Some of the major subjects which a haiku is centered upon deals with nature and the aspects within it.

Example Poem

Basically this dates all the way back to a old English form of poetry. I'm not going to bore you with all the back details for it's not really that interesting to begin with, but the form of writing on the other hand is actually expressed and used more often then we think. Something that should be known is that how you rhyme should always be masculine; as well as, following the scheme of aa, bb, cc, and so on.

Example Poem

Another humorous styled poem in which you're main goal is to portray a comical sense towards the poetic field of writing. These poems originated from Ireland, and follow the structure of a aabba type of stanza writing. The first line generally explains the situation, then moves onto what happened, followed by what went wrong in the aspect of the situation, and lastly why it somewhat matters. Generally the harder form of poetry, but well worth the exertion of effort in the end.

Example Poem

Monody poems are sometimes a bit morbid and upsetting to the poet writing the piece of work. It's basically describing the death of someone whom they were close to and loved, and at the same time reminiscing what they've experienced with the individual. Powered with emotion. They sometimes follow the rhyming scheme of abab, but that's not exactly always the case.

Example Poem

I remember her beautiful eyes,
Glistening beneath the summer sky.
I remember her honesty, without any lies,
I ask you this now, why did she die...

No more can I talk to her for hours,
Not even see her beautiful smile.
I'll never forget what was ours,
I won't be seeing you for a while.

A monorhyme lives up to its prefix of mono-, meaning one and solely one. All you have to do is write a poem in which the last word in each line of every stanza is rhyming. There is no length variable, so that should make it a little easier on all of you who don't like constricting yourselves to a length. The subject matter can be pretty much anything, so feel free to go wild on that one.

Example Poem