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by Jay O'Toole

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A place for discussion on poetry, reviews, contests, etc.

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Dec 10, 2018 at 4:56pm

#3234874

The Structure of Free Verse

by Dave

Free verse poetry evolved from a desire of writers at the beginning of the twentieth century to alter the tone of the poem because of change in attitude toward literature in general, and poetry in particular, where concerns about the suitability of subject matter receded and the relationship between writer and reader became less formal. The term implies total freedom from any type of design or structure. This is not the case at all.

In traditional poetry, the fixed shape of the meter, rhyme, and stanza creates an emotional distance which facilitates universal acceptance. The poet writing free verse must compensate for the lack of traditional structure by designing the title, line, stanza, and rhythm to provide the greatest impact in an efficient manner. Otherwise, the poem will be nothing more than prose in disguise.

Careful design of the word selection and arrangement, the length and density of each line, and the breakdown of stanzas must provide a natural rhythm. That is, through much toil in search of precise language, experimentation with forming lines and stanzas, and extensive revision, the poet carefully crafts a work that appears natural, authentic, and convincing to the reader.

Here are a couple of examples:

Where I come from land lies flat as paper.
		Pine, spruce, holly like dark words
left from a woods.  Creeks coil, curve,
 		enigmatic as women.  To know the depths
you must dream.  In the mountains
		for college I walked up and could see
 barns, cows, house smoke, but no boats.
		Hillsides of winesaps, still, perfect.
 
Here my little boat takes the night Bay.
		One far neon light tosses, a city
	people walk alone, its rhythmic
		landscape cut from marshes and cries.
On black water it is all mine, first
		beginnings, endings, love's beauties.
So when I move, it moves under me, and knows me.
 
~'Night Pleasures' by Dave Smith

Snowflake (E)

...in a child's eyes

#1182457 by Dave

ASSIGNMENT: Write a free verse poem about your occupation. Since we do not do any fact checking around here, you and your muse are free to dream up any occupation you like, such as the inn keeper at the B & B on Mars.

Let the creativity flow from your soul!
Dave

MESSAGE THREAD

The Structure of Free Verse · 12-10-18 4:56pm
by Dave

Re: The Structure of Free Verse · 12-10-18 9:27pm
by Lisa Noe