Gnomic Poets

Gnomic poets are poets known for writing brief, pithy verses that express moral advice, practical wisdom, or general truths. Their work often reads like a chain of maxims or proverbs, meant to teach, warn, or sum up experience in a memorable way.

The word is usually used for early Greek poets such as Theognis or Hesiod when they write in this sententious, wisdom-centered style.

Example

Measure your anger before you measure your words;
A hasty tongue can split the quiet in two.
Trust the lamp that burns steadily, not the flare
that dazzles once and leaves the room in dark.

Links

Get a Premium Membership
Turn off ads, get more exposure for your poetry, and get more features with a Premium Membership.
Book: Diverse Voices: The Poetry of Human Rights and the Pursuit of Peace