Characteristics of Poem

Has a focused purpose (paints a picture, recreates a feelings, tells a story, captures a moment, etc) Does not sacrifice meaning for rhyme Includes many sensory images (things for the reader to see, hear, feel, taste, or smell) Uses strong verbs and precise nouns Employs a variety of types of poetic language similes, metaphors and/or personification Uses literary devices such as snap shots (things for the reader to visualize) and thought shots (characters thoughts) Uses different poetic devices such as rhythm, repetitions, alliteration Uses line breaks and punctuation effectively