名人教英文：types of english poetrye
the word poetry has its origin in the greek word poiesis which means "making". poetry is the aesthetic (美学的) way of making words into an art form. many of such art forms are handed down from the past by oral tradition.
there are different types and styles of english poetry to suit different occasions and purposes. by a rough count, there are at least fifty types of english poetry.
some poems are serious: on life and death, love and rejection, hope and despair (绝望); immortality (不朽) and heroic acts. others are light-hearted, written for laughter and fun.
this article starts the new year series on poetry appreciation by presenting an overview of the main types of poetry, listed in alphabetical order below.
ballads 民谣
each ballad tells a self-contained story, set in 4-line stanzas. it often repeats certain parts of the song — known as refrains (副歌).
many modern ballads are written in the form of songs and set to music. modern ballads in rhyming couplets include pop, rap and other lyrical poetic creations. lyrical poems are poems that are characterised by personal feelings and brevity (简炼).
blank verse 无韵诗
in its simplistic form, a blank verse is poetry without rhyme but in rhythmic iambic pentameter (五音步诗行).
it is said that "blank verse is the most powerful and influential form of english poetry". for example, many quotes in blank verse are from shakespeare's plays.
couplets 双韵诗 / tercets 三行押韵诗