Poem Types: Sonnet

Poems in the sonnet category tend to follow the rules set out by Shakespeare: a poem with fourteen lines that use iambic pentameter. Shakespearean sonnet form states that poems should have a pretty strict rhyme scheme: abab-cdcd-efef and the two final lines are rhyming couplets. However, these rules can be bent slightly – some sonnets are 12 lines long, others are 16 lines and not all stick to the strict 10-syllables-per-line rule - as long as the poem itself takes the basic shape of a sonnet with the lines and rhyming scheme, then it belongs in the sonnet section!

Famous Sonnets

Sonnet 130 is a sonnet by William Shakespeare that perfectly encompasses the rules of sonnets. A slightly tongue-in-cheek dedication to his mistress, he shows that stunning beauty and breathtaking features don’t always have to be present for love to blossom.

Marked With D is a sonnet by Tony Harrison that deals with the event of his father’s death. A baker by trade, the veiled imagery and heartfelt words throughout seem a fitting tribute to him and also makes it an incredibly interesting sonnet to study!

Into My Own by Robert Frost is a poem that deviates from the typical iambic pentameter in areas, but still counts as a wonderful sonnet! A heart-wrenching tale of the poet’s desire to run away, it utilises beautiful imagery to paint a vivid picture in the mind of the reader!

Sonnets on Mibba

Hope on Truth is a wonderful sonnet filled with vivid imagery that just sets the brain alight with mental paintings of a world that is crumbling around its inhabitants.

Weapon of Choice is a sonnet that explores art as something we use to defend ourselves – a weapon of sorts. With beautifully simplistic language and a strong theme throughout, this poem captures the attention of the reader until the finishing couplet!

The Static Error takes the rather unsettling topic of television static and utilises the sonnet form to create an unusual poem that will leave you worrying about a 1984-esque world by the time you’re finished!

Sonnet form is one of the older forms of poetry, but it possesses a certain charm that makes it easy to write and wonderfully simple to read. If you’re struggling to choose which type of poetry to get into first and are looking for poems that are easy on the eyes, then sonnets may be the choice for you!

Special thanks to Airi. and Goddess_Of_Muse for editing!