In anticipation of National Poetry Month, here are some poetic forms to investigate and/or play with. I know forms can seem a little intimidating for some, but they can often lead you to unexpected destinations with your writing.

• Abstract (or Sound) Poetry
  
• Acrostic Poems
  
• Alphabet Poetry
  
• Anagrammatic Poetry
  
• Concrete Poems
  
• Elegy
  
• Epitaphs
  
• Fibonacci Poetry
  
• Found Poetry
  
• Haiku
  
• Hay(na)ku
  
• Insult Poetry
  
• Kyrielle
  
• Limericks
  
• List Poems
  
• Occasional Poems
  
• Odes
  
• Pantoum
  
• Parody Poems
  
• Rondeau
  
• The Roundabout
  
• Sestina
  
• Shadorma
  
• Tanka
  
• Triolet

I hope you have fun playing around with these forms. My personal faves are the triolet, sestina and shadorma.