What is Poetic Forms

  Form

 Poetic form is more flexible in modernist and post-modernist poetry and continues to be less structured than in previous literary eras. Many modern poets eschew recognizable structure or forms and write in free verse. But poetry remains distinguished from prose by its form; some regard for basic formal structures of poetry will be found in even the best free verse however much such structure may appear to have been ignored. Similarly, in the best poetry written in the classic style, there will be departures from strict form for emphasis for or effect.

Among major structural element used in poetry is the line of the stanza or verse paragraph, and larger combinations of stanzas or lines such as cantos. Also sometimes used are the broader visual presentation of words and calligraphy. These basic units of poetics are often combined into the larger structure, called poetic form or poetic modes, as in the sonnet or haiku.