Form:
* Meter: The rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables within a line of poetry. Common meters include iambic pentameter, trochaic tetrameter, and spondaic hexameter.
* Rhyme: The repetition of similar sounds, usually at the ends of lines. There are various rhyme schemes (ABAB, AABB, etc.) and types of rhyme (perfect, slant, internal, etc.).
* Stanza: A group of lines forming a unit within a poem, separated by a space. Common stanza forms include couplets, quatrains, and sonnets.
Other Conventions:
* Imagery: Vivid descriptions using sensory details to create a picture in the reader's mind.
* Figurative Language: Using words or phrases beyond their literal meaning (e.g., metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole).
* Symbolism: Using objects, characters, or events to represent abstract ideas or concepts.
* Theme: The central idea or message of the poem.
* Tone: The writer's attitude towards the subject matter, conveyed through word choice, imagery, and other elements.
It's important to note:
* Modern poetry often breaks from traditional conventions: Many contemporary poets experiment with free verse (no set meter or rhyme), unconventional forms, and non-traditional language.
* No single convention defines poetry: Poetry is ultimately about the expression of creative thought and emotion through language.
Ultimately, the "most common" convention depends on the era, the specific poet, and the type of poetry you're looking at.