R and M or FV? Options

[Cleo_Serapis]

There is quite a debate for the poets in us, as to whether Rhythm and Meter or Free Verse is more popular at competition sites.

Here is your opportunity to tell us your thoughts.

Which do you prefer and why?

~Cleo  :read:

[Arnfinn]

Hi Merlin,

I read RGarfield's ideas on what is poetry? I think it is a sensible wrap-up of all a poet needs to know. To me just a humble dabbler, he lays down the basic foundations of writing something for the reader in simplistic language  terms. No one can teach poetry_ as one can teach music: where there are rules, scales etc. Poetry...you pushed out by yourself. The poet is a true artist; you creat your own style, your own creativity. You work hard, writing poetry is not simple. I think one of the best aspects of writing (or trying to write poetry) is the respect you aquire for the other poets. For me, poetry is an adventure and a fun thing.

This is something I wrote the other day.


I don’t know if parents read nursery rhymes these days. But if they do, this would be the start many a child’s introduction to rhythm and form. Parents reading nursery rhymes put stresses in the verses instinctively. No one sits down beside parents to tell them how to read. They acquire the technique from their parents and their parents from their parents and so on. Rhyme and metre within form poetry is the hardest to write in my view, rather than metre and free verse poems. However, because of limitations, form poetry often lacks greatness. Sure one can write in accordance with the rules which is commendable, but what of the poem? The excitement of writing a sonnet or the hardest form, (my opinion) the villanelle is the elation of complying with m & r rules, but by most the hardest part is the writing something good.  Though the challenge is always there and that’s why poets burn the midnight oil. Free verse is self expression. But, if the subject is weak, has no flow, badly constructed and or lacks imagination, the poem will be rejected, usually with few comments. Put the same rejected free verse poem within a poetry form with m & r and it will be accepted. For me, all poetry is something produced from the mind, the main enjoyment comes of creating something for exhibition and acceptance. I can’t imagine anyone posting a piece of poetry for the purpose of a non appraisal by other poets. Poets like painters utilise several mediums, have command of the same opus but are individualists.