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Rhyme and Reason

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Is there a reason I love rhyme? When critics now think it a crime: "Rhymed poetry's not worth a dime, It's as old-fashioned as ragtime, Free verse poems are most sublime." Yet I'm still rhyming all the time. Is there a reason I love rhyme? True rhymes are hills I love to climb! I do enjoy free verse big-time, but modern critics I'll not mime. I don't endorse their paradigm, and find it sour as a lime. Is there a reason I love rhyme? It's in my every cell's enzyme; my sun, my rain, my every clime; my mint, paprika, sage, and thyme; my juggling act, my pantomime. You ask, who's going to chime for rhyme? I'm.

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Line Gauthier

Date: 6/13/2020 1:14:00 PM

Wonderful poem - the flow is great. I like your last line ~ reminds me of a poem where my last line was "Arghhh" LOL

Line Gauthier
Date: 6/13/2020 3:58:00 PM

O boy ~ I just realized this is probably an entry into my current contest ~ thankfully my memory is going and I will not remember who wrote it when I will be judging my contest. I do enjoy judging blindly.

Michelle Faulkner

Date: 6/4/2020 4:26:00 PM

Wowwowwow - I'm so pea-green-eyed JEALOUS over how amazing and clever and fun this is! Monorhymes are tricky because they tend to be predictable, but this - especially 'enzyme' and 'pantomime' - is anything but! (I don't know if you saw my poem "A Reverse Rant" - it was on the same theme, but I think yours did the job better)

John Watt
Date: 6/4/2020 6:34:00 PM

...and no, I don't think mine is any better. Just different.

John Watt
Date: 6/4/2020 5:15:00 PM

I do remember "A Reverse Rant", about the famous poems and the unimpressed critic. Perhaps I was subliminally referencing it when I wrote this? I do seem to enjoy writing about writing. Thank you so much for your effusive appreciation of this, I'm honored. Now I'm off to go read your new post.

Winged Warrior

Date: 6/3/2020 7:13:00 AM

Rhyming right on timing lol...I'm the same my friend...some times a sentence without me knowing, comes out in rhyme...great verse Johnny Watts...^WW^ :o)

John Watt
Date: 6/3/2020 8:23:00 AM

Hi Wings, thanks for stopping by to enjoy a little "R & R", ha ha! JW

Elaine George

Date: 6/2/2020 7:18:00 PM

What a great Monorhyme! Love it! Thank you for sharing, John. ~ Elaine

John Watt
Date: 6/3/2020 8:24:00 AM

Always nice to see you drop by, Elaine. Much appreciated ~ John

Robert Lindley

Date: 6/2/2020 3:24:00 PM

Great piece, I could not agree more. I myself dearly love rhyme. Fav'ing this very fine example my friend. God bless..

John Watt
Date: 6/2/2020 4:04:00 PM

Thank you, kind sir. When a poet of your caliber and depth of experience offers a compliment it is accepted with deep gratitude. Blessings, John

Jhinuk Mukherjee

Date: 6/2/2020 3:09:00 PM

What a beautiful thought. Couldn't have agreed more. And I too love aa bb rhymes and think there is something so magical about that thing.

John Watt
Date: 6/2/2020 4:01:00 PM

Thank you for your kind comment, Jhinuk. I'm glad you could find enjoyment in this little rhyme about rhymes!

Judy Ball

Date: 6/2/2020 12:54:00 AM

I love this. It really put a smile on my face. Most of my poems rhyme too and I remember one poet who read one of my poems and rudely wrote back "what is it with you Americans and rhymes!?" I wrote back I live in Canada. ;) This is so cleverly done.Love it. God Bless and stay well. JB

John Watt
Date: 6/2/2020 1:30:00 AM

Thank you Judy. Appreciate all the good vibes you're sending. By the way, what is it with you Canadians and rhymes? Just kidding! Love your story ~ John

Charles Messina

Date: 6/1/2020 9:54:00 PM

A Prime Rhyme for sure, John. Love this!

John Watt
Date: 6/1/2020 10:06:00 PM

Lol, thanks Charlie! Good to see the cowboy hat hitting the trails

Sam Kauffman

Date: 6/1/2020 8:45:00 PM

Back to say congratulations along with my admiration for your winning prpesentation! I loved this verse when I read it and you so masterfully said it - "reason I love thyme!" Way to go my friend!

John Watt
Date: 6/1/2020 10:08:00 PM

Thanks for all the kind words, Sam!

Connie Marcum Wong

Date: 6/1/2020 1:39:00 AM

I love rhymed poetry as much as free verse. I feel it takes a little more talent to create a really good rhyme which is why I believe free verse is more popular with the modern world. This is a wonderful example of the monorhyme John, with no forced rhyme. I loved it! xxoo

John Watt
Date: 6/1/2020 7:26:00 AM

I value free verse highly and greatly admire the talented free verse writer. So many here on Soup are my free verse heroes. My only quarrel is with the academics who believe rhymed verse is passe, and no longer valid. Let's all get along, and let our talents flow where our muses take us. Thanks for the lovely comment, Connie. Glad you liked the poem. Hugs, John

Rhonda Johnson-Saunders

Date: 5/31/2020 8:21:00 PM

I LOVE your rhyme, John...very cute. Keep the rhymes coming! Hugs, Rhonda

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2020 10:25:00 PM

I will do my best, Rhonda. Thanks for the uplifting comment ~ John

Sam Kauffman

Date: 5/31/2020 6:58:00 PM

Sending you bouquets of parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme from that 59th Street Florist any time! Sorry this message has such bad rhyme but the gratitude troupe lost its mime! Love this bit a whimsy, John. Haven't looked at the contest results. Hope it did well!

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2020 10:04:00 PM

I'm Feelin' Groovy about that comment ... Why Don't You Write Me a rhyming comment every time? What do you think I Am... A Rock? Thanks for the fun, good friend!

Andrea Dietrich

Date: 5/31/2020 5:24:00 PM

Hmmm, now, as a grammar teacher I am going to tell you that you forced that last rhyme with bad grammar. hahaha. This is REALLY cute, John!! I have not even looked at the contest rules. I have been all day on phone with a friend and then emails. OH MY, I better get out to my deck and do more writing. As I do that, my comments to reply to are scrolling off and I am just never gonna catch up to all my sweet readers!!

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2020 6:03:00 PM

Guilty as charged. Bad grammar and me go way back, haha! Thanks for the visit and comment!

Arturo Michael

Date: 5/31/2020 8:30:00 AM

I like,"paprika, sage, and thyme"... the paprika add something to it...Nice one

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2020 1:03:00 PM

Arturo, thanks for adding a little spice to the soup. Very tasty! Appreciate your comment ~ John

John Lawless

Date: 5/31/2020 7:08:00 AM

Rhyme on McWatt, rhyme on

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2020 12:19:00 PM

A comment flawless, Mr Lawless! Thanks for dropping by ~ John

Silent One

Date: 5/31/2020 6:22:00 AM

I have seen you develop into a great poet who has written different forms.. but you always do rhyme well.. I like the flow to this one... When I start rhyming, I start to rap. Funnily, I do spoken word and I can only memorise the rhyming ones..

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2020 1:00:00 PM

SO, as always, your compliment means a lot to me. I was reading an article at Soup by Sydney Beck called "The Use and Misuse of Rhyme in Poetry", and he mentions rhyme grew in popularity as a memorization device. An intriguing read ~ John

Jan Allison

Date: 5/31/2020 2:47:00 AM

Is there a reason I love to rhyme - yes because I think rhyme is sublime especially in limericks lol and reading a gem like this makes my heart leap. Absolutely a joy to read John:-) write on or is it right on!!:-) hugs Jan xx

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2020 12:56:00 PM

Jan, your rhymes always make me smile, be they bawdy or sublime. Your comments too. So glad your heart could leap with this ode to rhymes, my friend. Write on! Hugs ~ John

Shirley Hawkins

Date: 5/31/2020 12:40:00 AM

If rhyme is what you pen the best Why would you need to write the rest Other poets maybe more sublime It's rhyming poetry where you SHINE! I loved the one you penned this time. Perhaps you may read one of mine.

John Watt
Date: 5/31/2020 12:58:00 AM

And now for something completely different... Shirley Hawkins! I enjoy your brand of 'different'. Thank you Shirley, for your clever and uplifting rhyme comment! ~ John

Gershon Wolf

Date: 5/30/2020 11:22:00 PM

Me, too. Rhyme that's clever, forever! ~ gw

John Watt
Date: 5/30/2020 11:42:00 PM

You make it worth the endeavor! Thanks for your witty comments, GW!

Brandy Nicole

Date: 5/30/2020 11:21:00 PM

"Is there a reason I love YOUR rhyme?" Yes, each word wraps around my heart- every time. : ) This is so cute, clever and creative. Ahh, free verse gets bashed, for being free. I like a little adventure, but enjoy structure too. Of course, and so do you. Your thoughts bring a smile. : ) Brandy

John Watt
Date: 5/30/2020 11:44:00 PM

I am like you, I love structure and free verse too. The freedom to rhyme or not to rhyme is the freedom I desire. Your comments always make me happy, Brandy. Hope all is well. Hugs ~ John

Aditi Mishra

Date: 5/30/2020 6:20:00 PM

Enjoyed your muse on loving rhyme..especially that stanza where you so vividly describe with metaphors how rhyme is dissolved into your words. A creative take with your witty expressions dear friend :)

John Watt
Date: 5/30/2020 6:24:00 PM

Thank you again, Aditi for bringing your generous insights into these comment boxes, and encouraging and inspiring others to keep writing and sharing. I hope you are doing well in the midst of the pandemic and global lockdown. Blessings, my friend ~ John