Question

read this poem:

my old eyes are blind
but my memories are deep
they help me to see.

this is an example of which type of poem?

a. free verse
b. haiku
c. ode
d. ballad

Explanation:

Analyze the poem's structure

We begin by counting the syllables in each line of the poem to identify its structural pattern, applying Poetry Analysis.

• Line 1: "My old eyes are blind" (My [1] old [1] eyes [1] are [1] blind [1]) = 5 syllables.
• Line 2: "But my memories are deep" (But [1] my [1] mem-o-ries [3] are [1] deep [1]) = 7 syllables.
• Line 3: "They help me to see" (They [1] help [1] me [1] to [1] see [1]) = 5 syllables.

Match with literary genres

Using our knowledge of Literary Genres, we evaluate the options based on this 5-7-5 syllable structure:

• Haiku: A traditional Japanese poetic form consisting of three phrases with a 5, 7, 5 syllable structure.
• Free verse: Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.
• Ode: A formal, often ceremonious lyric poem that addresses and celebrates a person, place, thing, or idea.
• Ballad: A narrative poem, typically structured in four-line stanzas (quatrains) with a distinctive meter and rhyme scheme.

The 5-7-5 syllable count perfectly matches the definition of a Haiku.

Answer:

• (A) Free verse
• (B) Haiku (Correct answer)
• (C) Ode
• (D) Ballad