Types of Poetry
The poems found on this site fall into four main categories:

1. Haiku: A haiku is a small poem developed and perfected in Japan. Experts may debate what constitutes an English-language haiku (see our "Counting Syllables" tee), but for most people a haiku in English is a nature poem in three lines, roughly arranged as five syllables, seven syllables, and five syllables. Ideally, a marked shift in thought should occur between either the first and second line or (ideally) the second and third.
   
   
2. Senryu: A senryu (roughly pronounced "sen reh yoo") is formed like a haiku, but its subject is human nature, often with a humorous twist.
   
   
3. Lune: Because English words tend to have fewer syllables than Japanese words do, an English haiku tends to contain more words, making it less sparse than a Japanese haiku. To rectify this, the American poet Robert Kelly suggested reducing the syllable count from seventeen to thirteen, arranged as five syllables, then three, then five. The lune form is a favorite of ours and is often featured on this site.
   
   
4. Vers Libre: (Or "free verse") Much modern poetry is constructed without a formal structure, leaving the poet to decide where lines should break and what poetic techniques should be used to shape the message. "gazing upward at an arch" is one example of a vers libre poem on this site.

Should you have any questions, comments, or suggestions about the poems or poetic forms used on this Web site, we welcome you to contact us.