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Poem styles & designs

See every style, finished and framed

From rhyming couplets to sonnets, limericks and acrostics, here's how each style reads, printed in each of our six designs. Find one you like, then write yours with that style and design already chosen.

Write your poem — free preview

Every poem below is a sample, written for made-up people to show the range. Yours is written from scratch around your own details.

Showing 18 sample poems

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Helen — Ruby Anniversary”, written as rhyming couplets in the Cream Classic design. It begins: “In Oban, at a ceilidh dance,”

Sample poem Rhyming couplets A ruby anniversary poem for a wife, in classic rhyming couplets. Ruby Anniversary · Cream Classic Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Grandad — 80th Birthday”, written as rhyming couplets in the Botanical design. It begins: “In your flat cap, down at the plot,”

Sample poem Rhyming couplets An 80th birthday poem from all the grandchildren, in rhyming couplets. 80th Birthday · Botanical Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Mum — Mother's Day”, written as rhyming couplets in the Soft Ivory design. It begins: “You sewed our names in every coat,”

Sample poem Rhyming couplets A short Mother's Day poem, sized to fit inside a card. Mother's Day · Soft Ivory Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Mum — Birthday”, written as rhyming couplets in the Cream Classic design. It begins: “It's Bertie here. I've grabbed a pen”

Sample poem Rhyming couplets A birthday poem for Mum, as written by the family dog. Birthday · Cream Classic Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Sam — First Anniversary”, written as rhyming couplets in the Art Deco design. It begins: “One year of marriage, give or take a row,”

Sample poem Rhyming couplets A first anniversary poem that starts with a line she chose herself. First Anniversary · Art Deco Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Rob — 50th Birthday”, written as alternate rhyme in the Midnight design. It begins: “You're up before I've stirred at all”

Sample poem Alternate rhyme A 50th birthday poem for a husband, in alternate rhyme. 50th Birthday · Midnight Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Emma — Wedding”, written as alternate rhyme in the Art Deco design. It begins: “Our Emma has a famous trait:”

Sample poem Alternate rhyme A wedding poem for a sister, written to be read out in a speech. Wedding · Art Deco Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “For Dad”, written as alternate rhyme in the Botanical design. It begins: “You'd hear him whistling, hours on end,”

Sample poem Alternate rhyme A memorial poem for a dad in alternate rhyme, written to read aloud. In Memoriam · Botanical Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Mum and Dad — Golden Anniversary”, written as a ballad in the Vintage Letter design. It begins: “In seventy-six, the summer blazed,”

Sample poem Ballad A golden anniversary poem for parents, told as a ballad. Golden Anniversary · Vintage Letter Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “For Linda, on Her Retirement”, written as a ballad in the Cream Classic design. It begins: “For thirty-two years, in our Leeds office,”

Sample poem Ballad A retirement poem for a colleague, to read out at the leaving do. Retirement · Cream Classic Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Claire — Valentine's Day”, written as a sonnet in the Midnight design. It begins: “We met in Leeds, at a bus stop, in the rain,”

Sample poem Sonnet A Valentine's sonnet for a wife: fourteen lines, ending on a couplet. Valentine's Day · Midnight Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Lily — Wedding”, written as a sonnet in the Soft Ivory design. It begins: “When you were small, you'd never pass a stick.”

Sample poem Sonnet A wedding sonnet from proud parents, written to be read aloud. Wedding · Soft Ivory Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Dad — 60th Birthday”, written as three limericks in the Art Deco design. It begins: “Our dad locks the back door at night,”

Sample poem Limerick Birthday limericks for a dad who never met a pun he didn't like. 60th Birthday · Art Deco Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Becky — 40th Birthday”, written as a limerick in the Botanical design. It begins: “For Becky's big four-oh, I hear”

Sample poem Limerick A single birthday limerick for a best friend. 40th Birthday · Botanical Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Mavis — 90th Birthday”, written as an acrostic in the Cream Classic design. It begins: “Many a Sunday, twelve of us would sit”

Sample poem Acrostic A 90th birthday acrostic: the first letters spell her name. 90th Birthday · Cream Classic Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Rosie — New Baby”, written as an acrostic in the Botanical design. It begins: “Rosie, you came on a snowy Tuesday, small,”

Sample poem Acrostic A new-baby acrostic that spells out her name. New Baby · Botanical Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “Remembering Margaret”, written as free verse in the Soft Ivory design. It begins: “Margaret fed the blackbirds bacon rind,”

Sample poem Free verse A gentle memorial poem in free verse, to be read at a funeral. In Memoriam · Soft Ivory Write one like this

Sample poem print titled “A Poem for Jack — Graduation”, written as free verse in the Vintage Letter design. It begins: “At seven, you took the toaster apart”

Sample poem Free verse A graduation poem for a son, in free verse. Graduation · Vintage Letter Write one like this

The styles, explained

Every style keeps a steady rhythm, and every rhyming style puts the rhymes where you can hear them, at the end of lines you'd naturally pause on. Not sure which to choose? Rhyming couplets are what most people picture when a poem is read aloud.

Rhyming couplets

Every two lines rhyme with each other (AABB). It's the easiest style to follow when the poem is read out, which makes it our recommended choice for almost any occasion.

You always leave the hall light on for me,
and save the last good biscuit for my tea.

Alternate rhyme

Every other line rhymes (ABAB), in four-line verses. It has a gentler, more flowing feel than couplets, and suits warm, reflective poems.

Ballad

Four-line verses where the second and fourth lines rhyme (ABCB), with the lilting beat of a folk song. Ballads are made for telling a story: how you met, a life well lived, fifty years of marriage.

Sonnet

Fourteen lines in the Shakespearean pattern (ABAB CDCD EFEF GG), turning in the middle and ending on a couplet that lands the whole poem. Elegant and timeless, and lovely for anniversaries, weddings and Valentine's Day.

Limerick

Five-line comic verses (AABBA) with a bouncy beat and a punchline on the last line. We offer limericks when you choose a funny or playful mood, perfect for birthdays and leaving dos.

Acrostic

The first letter of each line spells a word down the page, usually their name. The letters are picked out on the print, so everyone spots it.

Free verse

No rhyme, but still unmistakably a poem: natural line breaks, a clear rhythm, and room for quieter feelings. It often suits memorials and very personal poems.

Found a style you like?

Choose it in step 6. You can also change the style of your preview for free, as many times as you like.

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Sample poems