Modern Poetry

Concrete Poetry


Another type of pattern poem is a concrete poem; it takes the shape of its subject matter.
Form can reveal meaning.


For example, in the poem by Robin Robertson (1955 - ) "Cat Failing" shows letters in a descending pattern, and the shape of the some of the words spell c-a-t.
Check it out here.
 
Typeface:  Poets might choose to use italics, bolded words, or a mixture of lowercase and uppercase letters. Such variations in typeface give clues about meaning within poems.



For example, in the cat poem, the large apostrophe in the word it’s may reflect the cat’s embarrassment at being caught falling.
Calgary’s 2014-2016 Poet Laureate, Derek Beaulieu, is a visual poet whose concrete poem,  “Prose of the Trans-Canada” was projected onto the Calgary Tower in the spring of 2014.  Take a look at this complex poem here.



Click here to view more concrete poems.
To consider kinds of poetry further and how they are written, view the following websites:
Click here to link to http://www.shadowpoetry.com/resources/wip/acrostic.html.
Click here to link to https://www.youngwriters.co.uk/glossary-poetry-types.

Reverse Poetry


Reverse poetry is a poem that can be read forwards (top to bottom) and also backwards (bottom to top).  Each direction usually has a different and opposite message. Precise word choice is critical to create these masterpieces!

Watch these poems that were created to be read forwards and backwards (two of them written by teenagers!):