The Battle of Karbala is one of the most significant events in Shi‘a history. Since the purpose of literature is to allow one to empathize with the lives of exemplary people and perceive significant historic events, there have been countless poets who strove to illustrate the persona of Imam Husayn and the battle of Karbala. This paper seeks to describe genera within Shi‘a poetry pertaining to the tragic experience of Imam Husayn and his family members and companions on the plains of Karbala. The specific genres include Husayni, Karbalai, Ashurai, and Ashura-oriented literature.