A concrete poem arranges words on the page to form a shape related to the subject. The visual arrangement is part of the meaning. A poem about a snake might be written in a winding line. A poem about a tree might have words arranged as a trunk and branches. The shape and the words work together.

The form goes back to ancient Greece, but it became popular in the 20th century with poets like E.E. Cummings and George Herbert. The French poet Guillaume Apollinaire wrote calligrammes, poems that formed pictures. Modern concrete poetry often uses typography, spacing, and font size to create visual effects.

Concrete poem characteristics

• Words arranged to form a shape.
• Shape relates to the subject.
• Visual element is part of the meaning.
• Often uses typography and spacing.
• Can be read as both text and image.

A concrete poem is not just a poem with a picture. The arrangement is essential. If you rearrange the words into a normal block, the poem loses meaning. The shape carries information. A poem about a hourglass might be shaped like an hourglass. The words at the top are about the beginning. The words at the bottom are about the end. The narrowing in the middle represents the passage of time. The reader experiences the poem visually and verbally at the same time. Concrete poetry is a hybrid art. It is literature and visual art combined. It challenges the idea that poetry is only about sound and meaning. It adds sight. The page becomes a canvas. The words become shapes. The poem becomes an object.