Lyric poems are frequently the first poems students want to memorize because of their rhythm, beauty of language, and reflection of a poet's personal response to a topic. Sonnet Verses usually contain 14 lines, usually in iambic pentameter, with an elaborate rhyme scheme. Sonnets are long enough to allow for development of thought, yet they require precision in language and form. For this reason, sonnets provide excellent examples of disciplined use of rhyme, rhythm, and imagery. Students are frequently surprised to learn that rhyme is not a requirement of poetry.
Content is usually humorous, with last line ending in a surprise twist.
Content relates to mood or feelings evoked by nature or the seasons. Asking students to write their own patterned poetry encourages word play and challenges them to create rhyme and rhythm in a structured format. Both the reading and the writing of patterned poetry demand discipline. Writing it requires searching for the perfect word to express the desired image. Reading it requires constructing inferences to recreate the poem's meaning.