This might be a silly question, but I don't care. - Bella Cardenas's Blog

Off the bat, I’m not a writer who follows form. I find other forms ridiculous at some moments. I do free verse, most of the time. Sometimes I dabble on other types but this is what I’m really asking myself:

Why would you restrict yourself to form?

Doesn’t that really hinder the message of your poem?

I understand the concepts of certain types of poetry like didactic, or classical and things of that nature. But what I don’t understand is the A-B-B-A, 5 syllables in every other line or the poem has to end in one syllable. I just don’t get it.

I was thinking, well perhaps people write in strict forms because of the discipline and the difficulty of it all. Or maybe some people like structure. Who knows?

Take for example, Alliteration. Granted, I’ve seen some good ones, but most of the time it rarely makes sense.

Rhyme sometimes detracts from the power of the poem. I understand if it’s just a light poem, then whatever, it’s cute sometimes. Maybe limericks or something. But when I see it in serious poetry, it sometimes makes it not so formidable.

I should be more open, but it’s not like I HAVEN’T tried other forms. I just prefer free verse. The point of this blog though, is for my fellow Soupers to show me the light.

If you DO write in forms like a Fibonacci or a double dactyl, please tell me why. I’m serious, I want to know why. Does it give you a special satisfaction that you could fill in the blank? I’m not being malicious, I just honestly want to know why.