An acrostic sonnet is a specialized sonnet form in which the initial letters of each line (or sometimes the first word of each line) spell out a word, name, or phrase vertically when read sequentially; while traditional sonnets adhere to strict rhyme schemes and thematic structures (e.g., Petrarchan or Shakespearean), the acrostic sonnet adds an additional layer of constraint and meaning through its hidden textual message, often used for dedications, puzzles, or symbolic emphasis—examples include Elizabethan courtly poems encoding a lover’s name or modern experimental works that blend lyrical expression with cryptographic play.

Sonnet with hidden message in first letters of lines. Combines acrostic technique with 14-line form. Practice: Try writing your dedication as first letters of each line.