Concrete Poem
Concrete Poem: A poem whose visual shape on the page reinforces its meaning.
In a concrete poem the layout is a second text: the poet makes the page itself perform the subject before a single line is read.
Concrete Poem examples
"Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, / Though foolishly he lost the same,"
— Easter Wings, George Herbert
"A broken ALTAR, Lord, thy servant rears, / Made of a heart and cemented with tears:"
— The Altar, George Herbert
"The word 'silence' is arranged into a block with an empty space at its centre."
— Silencio, Eugen Gomringer
"The lines narrow into the shape of a mouse's tail."
— The Mouse's Tale, Lewis Carroll
"The words form the shape of a swan floating above its own reflection."
— Swan and Shadow, John Hollander
Want a full walkthrough? Read our long-form guide: Concrete Poem examples, explained.
Spot the Concrete Poem
Score: 0/0A poem whose visual shape on the page reinforces its meaning.
"Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, / Though foolishly he lost the same,"
Which work is this from?
Explore every literary device in the poetic devices hub.
Concrete Poem: common questions
What is concrete poem in literature?
A poem whose visual shape on the page reinforces its meaning. In a concrete poem the layout is a second text: the poet makes the page itself perform the subject before a single line is read.
What is an example of concrete poem?
A classic example is "Lord, who createdst man in wealth and store, / Though foolishly he lost the same," (Easter Wings, George Herbert).
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