poetry

Poetry is a form of literary art that uses language in heightened or condensed ways to express experiences, emotions, ideas, or observations. It often relies on imagery, figurative language, sound, and deliberate line breaks to shape meaning and impact.

Poetic form ranges from highly structured to open-ended. Many traditions employ meter and rhyme, while others favor free verse. Common forms include the sonnet, haiku, ballad, ode, epic, villanelle, and limerick, as well as numerous free-verse approaches. Techniques frequently used in poetry include imagery, metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, assonance, consonance, and enjambment, along with crafted pacing and lineation that influence rhythm and emphasis.

Poetry has diverse historical roots. It developed in oral and sung traditions before appearing in written form in ancient civilizations. Classical Greek and Latin poetry shaped Western canons, while medieval vernacular poetry flourished across Europe. In Asia, forms such as Chinese shi, Japanese tanka, and haiku have longstanding traditions. The modern era brought experimentation with voice, form, and language, giving rise to Romantic, Modernist, and contemporary movements, as well as a wide array of styles worldwide.

In practice, poetry serves many purposes: to tell stories, to convey emotion, to respond to social or political conditions, to explore language itself, or to be read aloud for performance. Scholarly study of poetry often focuses on form and technique, historical context, and the ways in which poems evoke interpretation and meaning for readers.