redfarmer Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 Free verse is often compared to poetry what abstract art is to art. One of the most recognized characteristics of free verse is that it often doesn't rhyme. However, I started thinking and wonder if rhyming is an essential characteristic of poetry. Can one still make good poetry if one pays attention to rhythm, meter, etc.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
punk Posted March 11, 2005 Report Share Posted March 11, 2005 Below is an excerpt of Beowulf. You will notice no specific rhyme scheme or meter, although there is a tendency to use alliteration, rhyme and such of words in proximity to each other for effect. All those structures are largely a stylistic constraint chosen by the author but not essential to poetry per se. However, poetry should remain near to music. A poem should be intended to be read aloud and have structures and cadences conducive to such a reading. I find that much free verse doesn't do well being read aloud, and seems to be intended to be read silently. In that sense it is really just very oddly written prose. Hwæt! We Gardena in geardagum, þeodcyninga, þrym gefrunon, hu ða æþelingas ellen fremedon. Oft Scyld Scefing sceaþena þreatum, 5 monegum mægþum, meodosetla ofteah, egsode eorlas. Syððan ærest wearð feasceaft funden, he þæs frofre gebad, weox under wolcnum, weorðmyndum þah, oðþæt him æghwylc þara ymbsittendra 10 ofer hronrade hyran scolde, gomban gyldan. þæt wæs god cyning! Ðæm eafera wæs æfter cenned, geong in geardum, þone god sende folce to frofre; fyrenðearfe ongeat 15 þe hie ær drugon aldorlease lange hwile. Him þæs liffrea, wuldres wealdend, woroldare forgeaf; Beowulf wæs breme (blæd wide sprang), Scyldes eafera Scedelandum in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Roark Posted March 12, 2005 Report Share Posted March 12, 2005 (edited) Here is poem Iwrote in free verse when I finally decided to caste of religion and embrace Objectivism. tell me what you think and if you think it is in the abstract form of art? No More No more will I allow my death. At the hand of the living dead Who follow the sacrificial path. That leads to unreason Forcing me to be human no more. No more will I bow down To those who have lost all Following sick passions Abandoning their reason to feeling Forcing me to be human no more No more will I be meek Waiting for prayers that will never be Sitting around watching life pass by While waiting on a Ghost to provide Forcing me to be human no more No more will a force dictate Beating me down to the ground Raping me of ever thinking That I am worth anything Forcing me to be human no more I will no longer be a dependent Leeching the blood of others To live in a pseudo world And not know who I am Forcing me to be human no more I will be a Man Whose life is his, only his, and is an end itself Whose only guiding light is Reason’s Fire Who knows how to reach Life’s Purpose, Which is to be a man of Ego and Self-Esteem Who is able to Produce all his Desires And his final and ultimate Value, His own Happiness in Life In this world and no other. And, I will stand tall with Pride Beating For I will be Human Once More! Edited March 12, 2005 by Richard Roark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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