Stanza Examples

A stanza is a group of lines in poetry, typically more than two, that form the basic unit of the poem. Poets typically separate the stanzas by putting space between them.

The lines of a stanza usually follow a certain rhythmic pattern and rhyme scheme.

These two stanzas from "Caged Bird" by Maya Angelou speak of the contrast between the free bird and the caged bird:

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

These two stanzas from "I Wandered Lonely As a Cloud" by William Wordsworth follow a specific rhyme scheme (ABABCC):

I WANDERED lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.