Haiku is a traditional form of Japanese poetry. It has 3 lines. It tells about nature or the seasons. It has 17 syllables in all - the first line has 5 syllables, so does the third line; the second line has 7 syllables.
Limerick is a funny poem consisting of five lines that rhyme. The rhyme pattern is AABBA. The first, the second and the fifth line are long and have seven to ten syllables, whereas the third and the fourth lines only have five to seven syllables. The first line usually begins with "There was a..." and ends with a name, person or place. The last line of a limerick is usually far-fetched or unusual.
Cinquain is a five-line poem invented by an American poet, Adelaide Crapsey. She took her inspiration from Japanese haiku. The poem follows a pattern: Line 1 = 2 syllables telling the subject of the poem. Line 2 = 4 syllables describing the subject. Line 3 = 6 syllables telling about the subject. Line 4 = 8 syllables about the subject. Line 5 = 2 syllable synonym for the subject.