Mark Martin Poet Free verse

Flirting With Free Verse

Formal forms feel nice and safe
But meter makes me sweat
Sometimes rhymes will grind and chafe
And stresses makes me fret

Perhaps there is another way?
I need to be diverse
Panzer stanzas made of clay?
Or flirt with loose free verse

...

To write without rules? Freedom!
The shackles of rhyme snap open
And clatter to the floor
The ball and chain of meter and rhythm
Slip off and roll away
Through the septic puddle of conformity
Clunks against the cell wall
The solid steel door unbolts - one - two - three
And squeals open
Rust flakes bursting then falling
Metallic leaves onto a metallic forest floor
A breeze washes in - washes away the stale air
A poster of Dr Seuss lifts, then flaps, then rips
Then blows away
Daylight streams in - bright - white - blinding - searing
As fragile eyes adjust, the outside free-i-verse reveals itself
Freedom? Yes. But what chaos!
Repetition, imagery, metaphors and repetition - still there
And rhyme and meter!
Where should they go?
What if I get it wrong?
How will I know?
I can't take it in!

...

The door swings and closes - safe and secure
The chill draft now whispers - certain and sure
The shackles await me - to hold and embrace
The ball and chain staring - a well meaning face

Perhaps structure and form aren't really so bad
Free verse is trendy, or maybe a fad
From now on I'll stick to what I surely know
Rhythm and meter and rhyme true to flow

Or maybe I'll try again tomorrow...



(Entry for the "flirt" contest)

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Andrea Dietrich December 18, 2016 at 6:41 PM HA. SO true. IN the end, the classic prevails! I actually wrote a sonnet once about how I feel more comfortable enclosed in "my little room" with sonnet rules imposed on me. Free verse is too big. Like stepping out of one's comfort zone and into a scary ocean. I have tried it and usually I sink! Very cool stuff. Mark Martin December 19, 2016 at 10:56 AM Than!s Andrea! I'd like to try out a bit more free verse - maybe a paddling pool with water wings rather than the ocean - at least at first! :-)

Andrea Dietrich December 18, 2016 at 6:41 PM I see it won. BIG congrats. It was a creative entry and well deserved. Mark Martin December 18, 2016 at 11:51 PM Thanks Andrea! :-)

Richard Lamoureux December 10, 2016 at 1:36 PM Impressive, congrats. Mark Martin December 10, 2016 at 1:49 PM Thanks Richard! :-)

Francis J Grasso December 9, 2016 at 6:15 AM Congratulations, Mark! ...Fran Mark Martin December 9, 2016 at 11:52 AM Thanks Fran! :-)

Lewis Raynes December 8, 2016 at 9:47 PM You were the only one to flirt with poetry itself Mark, a beautiful take on the theme, congratulations on your win Mark Martin December 8, 2016 at 11:29 PM Thanks Lewis! Interesting contest! :-)

Jan Allison December 4, 2016 at 2:10 PM What a clever take on the flirting theme Mark - I only ever used to write with rhyme but now I flirt with other forms... but I think I need a lot of practice lol:-):-) hugs Jan xx7 Mark Martin December 4, 2016 at 2:21 PM Thanks Jan! I think free verse is easy to write, but hard to get right!

Darren White December 4, 2016 at 12:35 AM This is a WONDERFUL interpretation of flirting, and to me it is a winner. Love it :) A7 and fave. Mark Martin December 4, 2016 at 8:51 AM Thanks Darren. I've recently experimented with free verse - this is an exaggeration of what's going through my head when I'm writing it! Need to keep reading more of other people's work and practising! :-)