Poetry: Exploring Unusual Poetry Forms

This week: Exploring Unusual Poetry Forms

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According to Wikipedia, Poetry (from the Greek word poiesis, "making") is a form of literary art that uses aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meanings in addition to, or in place of, literal or surface-level meanings. Thank you for reading this NL.

Exploring Unusual Poetry Forms

Poetry for me is a playground. There is so much room for boundless creativity, but it’s easy for writers to fall into the comfort of familiar forms. While there is value in mastering the sonnet or the haiku, venturing into less conventional poetry structures can invigorate a poet’s craft in unexpected ways.

I dare you to try: Cleave Poem
I fell in love with the Cleave the day I saw it. A cleave poem has no rhymes, no rhythms and no set length. It is written in two halves, two separate poems, one on the left, one on the right, but together they make a single poem when you read them together. Learn more about it here.

Trying unusual poetry forms forces writers to contend with constraints and patterns that may feel foreign and restrictive at first. What is important is that it challenges us to think differently about rhythm, repetition, and language itself. It forces us to think outside the box. Navigating unfamiliar structures not only stretches technical abilities but also sparks fresh imaginative connections. By stepping outside our comfort zones, we discover new possibilities for expression, which increases our versatility as poets.

I dare you to try: Duplex Poem
The Duplex poem is also sometimes referred to as a gutted sonnet. This form is comprised of fourteen lines arranged in couplets, wherein each line is between nine and eleven syllables, the second line of the first couplet is echoed in the first line of the second couplet, and so on, and the first line of the poem is also its last. Learn more about it here.

Embracing new challenges like this can break creative stagnation. When a writer is confronted with rules they aren’t used to, they're forced to problem-solve and adapt. This can lead to surprising breakthroughs. You will learn to trust your instincts and become more resilient in the face of creative obstacles.

I dare you to try: Found Poem or Blackout Poetry
Found poems draw from a larger text, rearranged to create an entirely new work. Blackout poems use pre-existing or "found" text to create something new. Portions of the original text are kept, while other parts are drawn over or crossed out. These forms can give new meanings to old texts. Learn more about it here.

Ultimately, experimenting with unusual poetry forms isn’t just about mastering new techniques; it’s about pushing the boundaries of what our writing can do. For poets seeking growth, embracing these challenges is not just beneficial; it's essential. Give it a try. What do you have to lose?

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Still Caught in your Shadow

[18+]
Still missing a Narcissist
by Emberly Gray

I left your house,
I left your name,
but somehow I can’t
leave the flame
you burned into me.

~

The Spider and the Fly

[E]
The spider waits on the fly as the fly taunts the spider.
by Richard Briley Jr

Go on ahead
Taunt God
God is patient
He will wait on thee
Like the spider waits on the fly

~

Memories

[E]
When Love Fades
by Espero

When love is new, it brings such joy.
You play so coy
and have such trust,
amidst the lust.

~

Never Alone

[E]
A lonely isolated man fighting for his life, and sanity, discovers he is not alone
by One Solitary Voice

On that square, filled with people
He watched, he listened, thinking they are all sheeple
It is always the same, repeating sequel

~

Pumpkin

[E]
One of the times I discovered that anything is possible
by D.B.

I tried and tried
for years to make a pumpkin grow
from until late summer sighed
til' autumn showed its ember glow

~

Some Souls Have Fur

[E]
A rhyme that is a little happy touch of wonder.
by TeeGateM

Some souls are born with sunshine in their fur,
A glow so warm the whole world seems to stir.
This little one, kissed by the light of day,
Stands where gold and wildflowers gently sway.

~

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From sǝlɹɐɥƆ

in response to "Poetry Newsletter (December 31, 2025)"

Excellent newsletter. It's important, especially in poetry, to use words in a way that makes your reader almost surprised. Good poetry pushes the limit of what it means to even write poetry, if that makes sense. Your newsletter is a nice reminder.

Thanks! I'm glad it was useful.

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