fixedform

Fixed form, in poetry, refers to poems written according to a predetermined structure of lines, stanzas, meters, rhymes, or refrains. This reliance on an established template contrasts with free verse, which uses no consistent pattern. Fixed-form poetry has a long history across many cultures, often valued for musicality, precision, and the way form shapes meaning.

Common fixed forms include the sonnet (14 lines; typically iambic pentameter; Shakespearean or Petrarchan rhyme patterns), the villanelle (19 lines; two refrains and a strict pattern of repeating lines), the sestina (six six-line stanzas with a complex end-word repetition and a concluding tercet), the haiku (three lines, traditionally 5-7-5 syllables, with attention to season and moment), and the limerick (five lines with a distinctive rhythm and AABBA rhyme). Other notable forms include the pantoum (repeating lines in quatrains) and traditional French forms such as the ballade and the rondeau, each with their own refrain and rhyme rules. Non-Western traditions also contribute fixed forms, such as the ghazal in South Asian and Middle Eastern poetics or the tanka and haiku in Japanese practice.

Writing fixed-form poetry involves studying a model, counting lines and syllables or stresses, and crafting wording to meet the rules while conveying meaning. The constraints can create musical cadence, highlight imagery, and produce memorable effects through repetition or contrast. Critics note that fixed forms can feel restrictive, yet poets continue to use and adapt them to fit contemporary expression, often blending tradition with innovation to keep fixed-form verse vibrant.