Poetry began in prehistoric times. Early peoples used poetic language with accompanying music in songs, prayers, and magic spells. The patterns of rhyme and rhythm helped people remember and so preserve oral poetry from generation to generation. After the development of writing, poetry gradually became an important written art. Today, millions of people throughout the world continue to listen to or read poetry.
Many people also write poetry.
Through the years, poets have developed many kinds of poetry. Lyric poetry Lyric poetry is by far the most common type of poetry. The word lyric comes from lyre, a harplike instrument played by ancient Greek poets during recitals of their shorter poems. Today, lyric poetry means any short poem. The haiku, a Japanese form, is one of the shortest types of lyric poetry.