Monody is a poem form inspired by the old Greek odes, and more specifically elegies. It is a poem of grieving, meant to be recited by a single person. As such, monodies do have a tendency to be more personal than other elegies, referencing the feelings of the individual rather than the general opinions of a group.
Idylls are short poems about rural living, but Theocritus’s original idylls were quite long by the standards of modern poetry. This is generally seen as a synonym for pastoral. When the two are differentiated, it is accepted that “idyll” will then refer to poems directly inspired by Theocritus’ writing.
Bucolic poems, depending on perspective, are either a subcategory of pastoral poems OR a synonym for pastoral. (It’s a bit of a gray area.) The most noteworthy examples of bucolic verse tend to idealize rural living as an aesthetic rather than as a lifestyle, with more appeal for the upper class.
An anagrammatic poem is a poem in which every line or section of the poem is an anagram of all lines or sections of the same length. Anagrammatic poems are extremely uncommon due to their difficulty. They represent an interesting mixture of puzzles and poems.
A patchwork poem is a form of found poetry made of lines taken from different sources, and when assembled together they create an entirely new poem. Patchwork and cento are actually words used interchangeably when referring to this poem type. It’s just that patchwork poetry is essentially seen as the “modern” version.
A cento is, in essence, a collage poem because it consists entirely of poetic lines taken from poems written by other authors. Cento is in fact from a Latin term that means “patchwork garment”.
The sapphic verse is a poem type consisting of four-line stanzas of any number. The term sapphic is derived from the name of the ancient Greek poet Sappho. Sappho wrote and left behind fragments of verses from which, apparently, sapphic poems have developed.
Ekphrastic poetry is a written expression of a visual form of art. In ancient Greece, they use the ekphrasis technique to write about or verbalize momentous events, history, or a work of art. Because ekphrastic poems are a way to creatively articulate art or significant scenes or events, this poem type is usually imaginative, vivid, and quite dramatic.
An epigram is a brief poem or saying often with a witty, amusing thought at the end. Epigrams usually rhymed with themes that are either satirical or comedic.
An elegy is a poem type that explores and reflects on themes of loss, mourning, and consolation. Elegiac poetry then is typically meant to grieve the death of a loved one.
Concrete poetry is a unique form of poetry in which the words on the page form some meaningful image or shape that complements the poem itself. Concrete poetry is also known as shape poetry.
Pastoral poems are known for romanticizing idyllic country life and exploring man’s relationship with nature. A pastoral poem expresses one’s desire or fantasy to enjoy a more peaceful life in the countryside.
An ode is a short version of lyric poetry. Odes were originally sung or chanted with a musical instrument, especially in ancient Greece. Odes are often performed to praise and glorify people, things, or events. Thus, they are typically formal or ceremonial in tone.
Acrostic poems are a form of poetry that spell out a word or message in the first letter, word, or occasionally syllable of each line in the poem. Some acrostics spell out the alphabet instead, but the core principle of using the beginning of the line to spell something out remains the same.