Metrophobia is the fear of poetry. The term is originated from metre, a basic structure of a poem.
Many people first develop this phobia in school when overzealous teachers encourage them to rank poems according to artificial scales, break them down and search for esoteric meanings. Others may simply think that the importance of poetry is overexaggerating.
Some sufferers fear all poetry, while others fear poems that deal with specific subject matter or are written in a specific style. Many sufferers feel anxious about being in English classes, as poetry is often taught in those classes.
Metrophobia is often treated by stripping away negative thoughts and beliefs about poetry.