Ode: a lyric poem, typically one in the form of an address to a particular subject, written in varied or irregular metre. Epic: a long poem, typically one derived from ancient oral tradition, narrating the deeds and adventures of heroic or legendary figures or the past history of a nation. Allegory: a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. Legend: a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but not authenticated.