Ballad Poems

Definition of Ballad Poems

Ballad Poems are poems that tells a story similar to a folk tale or legend and often has a repeated refrain. A ballad is often about love and often sung. A ballad is a story in poetic form. A collection of 305 ballads from England and Scotland, and their American variants, were collected by Francis James Child in the late 19th century - an example is shown below.
 

Example of Ballad Poems - Excerpt

The Mermaid
by
Unknown author

Oh the ocean waves may roll,
And the stormy winds may blow,
While we poor sailors go skipping aloft
And the land lubbers lay down below, below, below
And the land lubbers lay down below.

http://www.types-of-poetry.org.uk/05-ballad-poems.htm