While many Western authors are familiar with traditional and highly regimented poetry forms, such as villanelles, pantoums and rondeaus, poetry is not limited either to the western world or to strict formats. Below are a handful of poem types that may not be familiar to most people
Landay
Afghan women have been composing and chanting landays for up to four thousand years, and some sources believe that landays may be the most authentic form of female expression from Afghanistan. A landay consists of a single two-line verse, often sung to the accompaniment of a hand drum. The first line is nine syllables long, and the second is 13 syllables in length. Its subject matter traditionally has related to love, loss, patriotism and warfare, although more recent examples have suggested deeper psychologically-oriented content, politically charged verses and allusions to current events.
Ghazal
Most commonly associated with Sufi poets Rumi and Hafiz, the ghazal (pronounced “guzzle”) is a poetic form invented in Persia (modern Iran) in the 7th century CE. It is best known for its structure, a series of couplets with a refrain, or radif, at the end of the second line of the couplet. These couplets are complete statements and there is no enjambment from one stanza to another. The poet is also included in the last couplet, either by name or by allusion (such as a nickname or a job title). Despite its age, the ghazal has been adopted over the centuries from poets of many nationalities, and American poets who have adopted the form include Adrienne Rich, John Berryman and Patricia Smith.
American sonnet
While traditional sonnets (both Shakesperean and Petrarchan) are well known throughout Western culture, the American sonnet is a more recent addition to poetry forms. Rather than adherence to a strict line and rhyme scheme, American sonnets are loose and expressive. Or, as Billy Collins put it in his poem “American Sonnet,” “We do not speak like Petrarch or wear a hat like Spenser/and it is not fourteen lines/like furrows in a small, carefully plowed field//but the picture postcard, a poem on vacation.” Celebrated poets such as Terrance Hayes and Wanda Coleman have used this form to express anger, political content and strong emotions.
Paint Chip Poetry
While the above forms of poetry are based on classical or well-established models, paint chip poetry is not relegated to form. Rather, it demands inspiration from the quotidian, utilitarian object known as the paint chip. Paint chips, which can be found at most hardware stores, tend to use whimsical or inspired names for their colors. Paint chip poetry takes advantage of this and uses the chips as a starting point.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, The IU East Campus Library will be hosting a pop-up Paint Chip Poetry writing event. Everyone in the IU East community is encouraged to stop by the library and compose poems, any length and style, inspired by the words they select at random from the chips available. With permission, the library will post poems to its social media sites.
Interested in learning more about poetry? Want to discover different forms of poetry from around the world? Curious about writing processes and creative inspiration? Ask us! iueref@iu.edu