Poetry is language arranged in lines. Like otherforms of
literature, poetry attempts to re-create emotions and experiences. Poetry,
however, is usually more condensed
and suggestive than prose.
Poems often are divided into stanzas, or paragraph-like groups of
lines. The stanzas in a poem may contain the same number of lines or may vary
in length. Some poems
have definite patterns of meter and rhyme. Others rely more on the
sounds of words and less on fixed rhythms and rhyme schemes. The use of
figurative language is also common in poetry.
The form and content of a poem combine to convey meaning. The way
that a poem is arranged on the page, the impact of the images, the sounds of
the words and phrases, and all the other details that make up a poem work
together to help the reader grasp its central idea.
