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What is a structured poem?

A structured poem is a poem that follows a specific pattern or structure. This pattern can be based on the number of lines in each stanza, the meter (the rhythm of the poem), or the rhyme scheme. Some common types of structured poems include:

* Sonnets: Sonnets are 14-line poems written in iambic pentameter (a meter consisting of ten syllables, with five stressed syllables and five unstressed syllables). Sonnets typically have a specific rhyme scheme, such as ABAB CDCD EFEF GG.

* Haiku: Haiku are three-line poems originating from Japan. Each line of a haiku has a specific number of syllables: 5 in the first line, 7 in the second line, and 5 in the third line. Haiku also typically contain a "kireji," or a cutting word, which separates the two parts of the poem.

* Villanelles: Villanelles are 19-line poems with a specific rhyme scheme (ABA ABA ABA ABA ABA ABAA). The first and third lines are repeated alternately throughout the poem, and the fourth line is repeated at the end of each stanza and as the last line of the poem.

* Sestinas: Sestinas are 39-line poems with a complex rhyme scheme. Six words are repeated throughout the poem, but are used in a rotating pattern throughout the lines. At the end of the poem, all six words are used in a single concluding line.

Structured poems can be challenging to write, but they can also be very rewarding. The constraints of a structured poem can help poets to focus their creativity and craft carefully constructed, beautiful works of art.

Poetry

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