Normally I don't write poems. But, I've read so many terrible ones I had to look into what it takes to write a real one. (Oh yeah, if you want Blog Powers consider this. You will have to read dozens of poems, most of them will make you cry. I have read absolutely horrible poems. Just because it rhymes, doesn't mean it's a poem, kids.)

This is what's called a English or Shakespearean sonnet. It consists of 14 lines divided into 3 quatrains and one couplet. 14 lines of iambic pentameter (an iamb is a "foot" consisting of 2 syllables, 1 unaccented and 1 accented)

Each line contains 10 syllables... Some literary scholars may argue it is 11, but I prefer 10 because it is what you see 80% of the time.

The waves were huge and crashed upon the deck,
They had to shield their eyes against the spray,
They met this storm in their over-sea trek,
After much travail all had lost their way,
Shrieking of the wind, like hounds of Hell,
Made them fearful the worst was yet to come,
Columbus, to them a story would tell;
They were to draw lots to see who's the one,
To take a journey if God them would spare,
The admiral himself drew out the marked bean,
Although it was odd, it seemed to be fair,
As with Jonah he asked, “What this could mean?”
In spite of it all, the storm did not hear,
Then land was seen, and abated their fear.

This was written by yours truly. I'll be waiting for hate comments from the wannabe poets. Can't identify yourself? Does your poem look like this?

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leik omg u see ther was a bird
it was all, Ima big bloo turd!