What the Hell is a Free Verse Poem?

If you're new to poetry, you may have come across the term "free verse" and wondered exactly what it means. Simply put, free verse is a type of poetry that does not follow a strict rhyme scheme or meter. It's called "free" because it gives the poet more freedom to experiment with language and structure, as they are not bound by the traditional rules of poetry.

Free verse has its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when poets such as Walt Whitman and Ezra Pound began to reject the strict rhyme and meter of traditional poetry in favour of more experimental forms. These poets believed that the restrictions of traditional poetry hindered the poet's ability to express themselves fully, and sought to create a more fluid and expressive form of poetry.

One of the key characteristics of free verse is that it does not follow a strict rhyme scheme. While some free verse poems may contain rhyme, it is not essential to the form. Instead, free verse poems rely on other techniques, such as enjambment (carrying a thought or phrase over to the next line), repetition, and imagery, to create a sense of musicality and flow.

Another characteristic of free verse is that it does not follow a strict meter. While traditional poetry often relies on a specific number of syllables per line and a regular rhythmic pattern, free verse does not have these constraints. This allows the poet to focus more on the content and meaning of their words, rather than worrying about fitting them into a specific form.

Despite its "free" nature, free verse is not a formless or undisciplined type of poetry. Poets who write in free verse still need to pay attention to things like line breaks, word choice, and structure in order to create effective and powerful poems.

An Example of a Free Verse Poem

"Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman

Whitman is one of the most well-known and influential poets of the free verse movement, and "Leaves of Grass" is his most famous work. The poem is a celebration of life and the natural world, and it is characterized by its use of free verse and its focus on the subjective experience of the poet. Here is an excerpt from the poem:

I celebrate myself, and sing myself, And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

I loaf and invite my soul, I lean and loaf at my ease observing a spear of summer grass.

My tongue, every atom of my blood, form'd from this soil, this air,
Born here of parents born here from parents the same, and their parents the same,
I, now thirty-seven years old in perfect health begin, Hoping to cease not till death.

This excerpt from "Leaves of Grass" demonstrates many of the characteristics of free verse, including its lack of a strict rhyme scheme and meter, as well as its focus on the subjective experience of the poet. The poem's use of free verse allows Whitman to convey the expansive and celebratory nature of his message in a way that is both fluid and expressive.

Free Verse and Blank Verse

Free verse is not to be confused with blank verse, which is a type of poetry that does follow a strict meter. It shares with free verse that it doesn’t have a rhyme scheme. The most common meter for blank verse is iambic pentameter, which consists of five iambic feet (an iamb is a metrical foot consisting of two syllables, with the first syllable being unstressed and the second being stressed). This creates a rhythmic pattern that is similar to the natural rhythms of spoken language. Blank verse is often used in plays and epic poems, as it allows the poet to convey a sense of drama and grandeur without the constraints of rhyme.

One key difference between free verse and blank verse is that free verse does not have a strict meter, while blank verse does. This means that free verse poetry has more freedom and flexibility in terms of the rhythms and rhythms of the words, while blank verse poetry is more structured and disciplined. However, both forms of poetry can be used to convey powerful emotions and ideas, and both require the poet to pay attention to word choice, structure, and other elements in order to create effective and powerful poems.

That’s all about free verse poetry for today, guys. If you're interested in writing free verse poetry, the best way to get started is to read a variety of free verse poems and see what techniques and approaches resonate with you. Experiment with different structures and see what works best for you. And above all, have fun with it! Free verse is all about finding your own voice and expressing yourself freely. If you need some help with this, stay tuned for our upcoming article: how to write a free verse poem that doesn’t suck.