poem
poem
Pronunciation
/ˈpoʊ.əm/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
First Syllable (/poʊ/):
/p/: Voiceless bilabial plosive
/oʊ/: Diphthong, starting with a mid-back rounded vowel and gliding towards a high-back rounded vowel.
Second Syllable (/əm/):
/ə/: Schwa, a mid-central unrounded vowel (often a reduced vowel sound)
/m/: Voiced bilabial nasal
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: poem
Example: I read a beautiful poem today.
Plural Noun: poems
Example: She has written many poems.
While "poem" itself isn't a verb or an adverb, it has related forms that function as other parts of speech:
Adjective: poetic
Example: The author used poetic language in her novel.
Example: He has a very poetic sensibility.
Adverb: poetically
Example: The scene was described poetically.
Related Noun (referring to the art form): poetry
Example: He is passionate about poetry.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun Definitions:
A literary composition, often written in verse, that expresses feelings or ideas with a particular emphasis on rhythm, imagery, and often rhyme, intending to evoke an emotional response in the reader or listener.
Synonyms: verse, ode, rhyme, lyric, ballad, sonnet, epic
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "prose" or "non-fiction" are contrasted but not antonyms of a "poem" itself.)
Figuratively, something that is considered exceptionally beautiful, gracefully formed, or emotionally stirring, reminiscent of the aesthetic qualities of a poetic work.
Example: "Her dance was a poem in motion."
Synonyms: masterpiece, work of art, marvel, beauty, wonder
Antonyms: eyesore, monstrosity, ugliness, disaster
Examples of Use
Books:
"Hope is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul / And sings the tune without the words / And never stops at all." (Emily Dickinson, The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, 1890)
"He had a favorite poem by Robert Frost that he would often recite from memory during long car rides."
Newspapers:
"Local high school student wins national award for her powerful poem on climate change." (The New York Times)
"The article explored the hidden meanings within the newly discovered medieval poem."
Online Publications:
"This interactive visualization allows readers to experience each line of the famous poem 'The Raven' in a new way." (NPR.org)
"Poets.org features a vast collection of contemporary and classic poems for all ages." (Poets.org)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie Dead Poets Society, students are encouraged to "seize the day" and appreciate the beauty of a poem. (Touchstone Pictures, 1989)
Music: Many songs are essentially poems set to music, like Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."
Television: "The show's latest episode featured a character reading a moving poem at a memorial service."
Social Media: A short, evocative poem shared on Instagram with an accompanying photograph.
General Public Discourse:
"That sunset was a pure poem of colors." (Informal conversation)
"For our anniversary, I wrote my wife a short poem expressing my love."
"During the open mic night, several people bravely shared their original poems."
10 Quotes Using Poem
"Every day we should hear at least one little song, read one good poem, see one exquisite picture, and, if possible, speak a few sensible words." (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)
"A picture is a poem without words." (Horace)
"If you cannot be a poet, be the poem." (David Carradine)
"I was reading the dictionary. I thought it was a poem about everything." (Steven Wright)
"A poem is never finished, only abandoned." (Paul Valéry)
"The figure a poem makes. It begins in delight and ends in wisdom... in a clarification of life." (Robert Frost)
"Peace goes into the making of a poem as flour goes into the making of bread." (Pablo Neruda)
"To read a poem is to hear it with our eyes; to hear it is to see it with our ears." (Octavio Paz)
"No race can prosper till it learns that there is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem." (Booker T. Washington)
"Poetry is what in a poem makes you laugh, cry, prickle, be silent, makes your toe nails twinkle, makes you want to do this or that or nothing, makes you know that you are alone in the unknown world, that your bliss and suffering is forever shared and forever all your own." (Dylan Thomas1)
Etymology
The word "poem" has a lovely origin that goes back to ancient Greek!
Imagine a craftsman making something with their hands – building, creating, or fashioning. That's essentially the root of "poem."
It comes from the Greek word "poiēma" (sometimes seen as "poēma"), which literally meant "a thing made or created," or "a work." This word itself came from the Greek verb "poiein," meaning "to make" or "to create."
So, when the word eventually made its way into English (through Latin and then French), its core meaning was still about something that was made or crafted – specifically, a piece of writing.
The first known use of "poem" in English appeared around the 1540s. At that time, it was used to refer to "a written composition in metrical form" or "a composition arranged in verses." It essentially took the place of the older English word "poesy" in this sense.
Therefore, from its very beginning, "poem" carried the idea of a carefully constructed, artful creation, much like a skilled artisan creates a beautiful object.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Poem
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "poem," or a synonym for similar effect when direct "poem" idioms are rare:
A walking poem: Describing someone or something that embodies beauty or artistic grace.
To write a love poem: To compose verses expressing romantic affection.
Every picture tells a story, every story is a poem: Suggesting that even visual art holds a narrative depth.
Life's a fleeting poem: Emphasizing the ephemeral and often beautiful nature of existence.
To put into verse/rhyme: (Using a synonym) To express something poetically.
The prose of everyday life: (Contrasting with "poem") Referring to the ordinary, non-poetic aspects of daily routine.
A lyrical masterpiece: (Using a synonym) Describing a highly artistic or expressive creation.
To wax poetic: (Using "poetic," a related adjective) To speak or write in an overly sentimental or elaborate way.
A song of praise: (Using a synonym) An expression of admiration, often in a structured, almost poetic form.
To read between the lines (of a poem): To understand the hidden or implied meaning.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of poem from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
