* Iambic refers to the meter of a poem, meaning the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. An iamb is a metrical foot with one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable (e.g., "again").
* Lyric refers to the type of poem. Lyric poetry is typically characterized by its personal, emotional, and often musical quality. It expresses the speaker's thoughts and feelings.
A poem can be both iambic and lyric. For example, Shakespeare's sonnets are written in iambic pentameter (five iambs per line) and are considered lyric poetry.
However, a poem can also be iambic without being lyric. There are many types of poetry that can be written in iambic meter, including:
* Narrative poetry: Tells a story.
* Dramatic poetry: Imitates dialogue and action.
* Epic poetry: Long narrative poem about heroic deeds.
In short: The term "iambic" describes the rhythm, while "lyric" describes the type of poem. While an iambic poem can be lyric, they are not mutually exclusive.