Patterns of Poetry: An Encyclopedia of Forms

Miller Williams’ Patterns of Poetry is an encyclopedia of the forms used by poets throughout the history of English, from blank verse to hymnal measure, from englyn penfyr to the double dactyl, from the clerihew to the sonnet. Each form is introduced with a brief discussion of its origin, which is followed by a graphic presentation of its scansion, metrics, and rhyme scheme. Sample poems show how each form actually works. Williams begins Patterns of Poetry with an introduction entitled “For...