Poème

Poème is the French term for a poem, a literary work that is typically written in verse, though poets have also explored prose poetry or other experimental arrangements. The word derives from Latin poema, via Greek poiema, meaning “a thing made.” In modern French, the standard spelling is poème, with the œ ligature; non-ligature spellings such as poeme may appear in certain texts or digital contexts.

Poèmes are characterized by features such as line breaks, rhythm, and imagery, and they may incorporate rhyme and meter, though many contemporary poems use free verse. They can take fixed forms—such as the sonnet, ballade, or rondeau—or adopt loose, fluid structures. Some poems are composed primarily in verse; others are written as prose poetry, where lineation and syntax resemble prose while preserving poetic effects.

Historically, French poèmes have evolved from medieval lyric and narrative works through the Renaissance and Classical periods to Romantic and Symbolist movements. Notable poets associated with the form include François Villon, Pierre de Ronsard, Charles Baudelaire, Stéphane Mallarmé, and Guillaume Apollinaire, among others. These traditions contributed concepts of imagery, musicality, and generation of meaning that have influenced both French literature and broader poetic practice.

In contemporary usage, poème encompasses a broad range of styles and genres, including lyric, narrative, and experimental works, as well as short and long forms and prose poems. It remains a central unit of French-language literary culture and is widely studied for its linguistic, formal, and aesthetic values.