what is a stanza in a poem

A stanza in a poem is a unit of poetry composed of lines that relate to a similar thought or topic, similar to a paragraph in prose or a verse in a song. It is a set of lines grouped together in a recurring pattern of metrical lengths and a sequence of rhymes. The structure of a stanza is determined by the number of lines, the dominant meter, and the rhyme scheme. Stanzas are used to provide structure, rhythm, and organization to a poem, and they guide the reader from one idea to the next