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Poetry and Prose

Traditional poetry has rhyme and metre
Which determines the way it is composed
These features make it a simple matter
In distinguishing such poetry from prose

A lot of writing now is in free verse
Where the main focus is on the content
The thing that now really matters the most
Is true capture of the poet's intent

Some free verse strive for a sense of metre
By carefully managing line layout
Some focus on painting a word picture
For that's what their poetry is all about

Prose rich in sentiment and imagery
Can also be rewritten as free verse
Would it then be described as prose poetry
Or should it be labelled poetic prose

What new poetry forms will the future grow
It's time alone that will give the answer
For poets may come and poets may go
But poetry shall continue forever

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Patricia L Graham Date: 4/9/2015 8:20:00 AM Thanks for the insight John. Glad someone took the time to throw this up! Login to Reply John Beharry Date: 4/9/2015 12:03:00 PM Continuation: It was only after I learned of free verse, that I saw that they could also be viewed as poetry with a slight variation in the line layout to create a sense of metre. I referred to such writing as poetic prose. An example of this is the first poem I submitted, entitled "Peace". I welcome comments from others on this. John Beharry Date: 4/9/2015 11:48:00 AM Thank You, Patricia. As a child, growing up, most of the poems I learned at school were of the traditional type. Memorizing and reciting them, which I enjoyed, were part of the learning exercise. Free verse, a modern form of poetry, was a new experience for me. Over the years, I jotted down some of my thoughts on things, especially, on Nature topics. I always considered such writings to be prose.