Hallmarks of Poetry

beneath the boughs of meter's grace a whispered rhythm finds its place each word a spark a fleeting flame a whispered echo of beauty’s name rhyme steps lightly hand in hand with time it weaves a golden strand it dances in couplets bold and free binding thought to melody imagery blooms in the poet's mind painting worlds both fierce and kind a rose that bleeds a moon that sighs the aching truth in lovers’ lies meter marches steady and strong the heartbeat of the poet's song a drumbeat soft a thunderous roar opening doors to worlds of lore alliteration hums a gentle breeze whispering secrets through the trees consonants clash vowels sigh crafting harmony low and high yet free verse too a rebel's prose finds beauty where the wild wind blows unbound by rules yet tethered still to passion's fire to the poet's will the hallmarks shine a timeless art a mirror held to the human heart from sonnet's form to ballad’s sway the soul of the poet leads the way