Components of a Poem
Words are the medium of poetry. In poetry, words are arranged in lines and stanzas rather than sentences and paragraphs. Lines and stanzas contribute to the visual element of a poem and enhance the reader’s overall experience by providing places to pause and rest stops to consider a change in subject matter. Another hallmark of poetry is that it uses few words to create high impact. Therefore, the poet chooses his words economically, using specific combinations of words and literary devices to produce vivid imagery and pack meaning into each line.