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Robins AFB Library: National Poetry Month

History of Poetry

April is widely known as National Poetry Month. The history of poetry begins in ancient times as a medium for storytelling and ritual purposes. Poetry was often used to establish traditional rhetoric for cultural events such as funerals and weddings. Homer and Virgil were inspirations for poetry use throughout the years.

Types of Poetry

1. Ballad - communicates an emotional or dramatic tale

2. Limerick - typically humorous with a specific pattern of rhyme

3. Ode - traditionally performed with an instrument to communicate musically

4. Acrostic - the first letter of each line spells out a message to reader

5. Sonnet - from the word, Sonetto which translates to "little song," style used by William Shakespeare

6. Free Verse - free of literary rules

Books on Poetry