The Preconception of Broad-beans is a reflective poetic form concerning a historical figure, originating in The Insignia of Socks. The rules of the form are applied by poets to produce individual poems which can be recited. The poem is seven sexains. Use of metaphor and vivid imagery is characteristic of the form. Each line has sixteen syllables. The third line of each sexain uses the same placement of allusions as the second line. The rhyme scheme of the poem is ABBCCB.