To rhyme or not to rhyme?

[Plutarch]

Do you prefer classical rhyming poetry, or more modern free verse? For me, it's rhyming. My favorite poet is Robert Frost.

 

[oggbashan]

Do you prefer classical rhyming poetry, or more modern free verse? For me, it's rhyming. My favorite poet is Robert Frost.

Whatever works as poetry, is poetry.

Although rhyme, rhythm, metre and structure can define some poems, none of them are essential for the result to be a poem.

What is the difference between poetry and prose? I think it is the author's intention. If the author thinks he/she is writing a poem, then a poem it is. It might be a bad poem.

Poems can have rhyme, rhythm, metre, be in a formal framework such as a sonnet and still be bad. There are some dreadful examples of well structured bad poems.

 

[Plutarch]

Whatever works as poetry, is poetry.

Although rhyme, rhythm, metre and structure can define some poems, none of them are essential for the result to be a poem.

What is the difference between poetry and prose? I think it is the author's intention. If the author thinks he/she is writing a poem, then a poem it is. It might be a bad poem.

Poems can have rhyme, rhythm, metre, be in a formal framework such as a sonnet and still be bad. There are some dreadful examples of well structured bad poems.

That last line is inspired! Sometimes when a bad poem is rhymed, it adds a layer of cheesiness that makes it even worse.

 

[Angeline]

Poems that rhyme without my especially noticing that they do impress me. Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night comes to mind as an example. Shakespeare's sonnets, too.

Generally, if rhyme seems to overshadow the rest of the poem I don't like it. But them my favorite poets rhyme either infrequently or not at all. That's just my taste and what makes one poem better than another is pretty subjective imho.

 

[sr71plt]

I go with rhyme and rhythm (special props for meter as well). Otherwise I think it's just lazy prose.

 

[serpentwrap]

The phonetic resonance-rhymes alone do not do much for me. In fact, they can be downright silly. But as sr71 said, good poems have a rhythm when you roll it off tongue. It could be a rhythm of structure, rhythm of syllables, rhythm of how it rolls off the tongue, and in a few exceptionally great poems, even rhythm of thoughts and feelings. If one reads Eliot's Prufock aloud, the rhythm of words, syllables, thoughts comes across so visibly and so "poetically". In fact good prose writing too has a rhythm. Its a different kinda rhythm, but powerful prose - be it staccato kinda writing or tongue-in-cheek - captivates its reader with the poetry of its language, that I think is the rhythm of words and phrases.

But thats my opinion...

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Think of poetic devices as tools in a poet's toolbox. Rhyme is a hammer, metre--a saw, enjambment--a tape measure, diction--nails, etc. If I tried to do everything that needs done with only a hammer, it would be a pretty poor house I'd build.

 

[oggbashan]

I think that some poets posting their work to Literotica underestimate the work necessary to produce a good poem.

Most successful abstract artists have undergone an extensive course of study into the traditional forms of art and are/were competent at painting, drawing and sculpture before producing abstracts.

Yet how many of Literotica's poets have tried the to create the traditional forms of poetry such as sonnets? I know that many of those who contribute in the Poetry forums have the skills to write strict format poetry even if they choose not to. But a cursory glance through the mass of poetry on Literotica can find poems that make me wince at their incompetence. (Of course that goes for stories as well! )

Communication is a skill that has to be learned and practiced, and poetry should be a precise form of communication no matter how it is structured.

 

[champagne1982]

I agree with Og... As if anyone would be so presumptuous as not to, indeed.

I agree with 'Dora... She's a full journeyman poet if I've ever seen one.

I agree with Ang... As if we could have poetry without editors and artists.

sr and sw have made posts I agree with...

It's certainly true that poorly written free verse might as well be lazy prose and/or poorly composed flash fic, it's also true that poorly written rhymed and metered verse is like a silly nonsense song. Well written ANYTHINGs need to be given the craft that anything the author/poet produces deserves.

If a person slaps together a poem, then it should be no surprise when it falls down. The surprise, if any might arise at all, should come when the piece stands above those generated from hard work.

 

[oggbashan]

... The surprise, if any might arise at all, should come when the piece stands above those generated from hard work.

Sometimes the Muses are kind and inspire something worthwhile that was produced easily.

Most of the time they have to be wooed with hard work.

 

[CharleyH]

Poems that rhyme without my especially noticing that they do impress me. Dylan Thomas' Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night comes to mind as an example. Shakespeare's sonnets, too.

Generally, if rhyme seems to overshadow the rest of the poem I don't like it. But them my favorite poets rhyme either infrequently or not at all. That's just my taste and what makes one poem better than another is pretty subjective imho.

I'm pretty much with you on this one, Ang, but I'll step a bit further into the mud because I just want to know everyone's first favourite poetry rhyme.

I still get a giggle out of my favourite childhood poem, though I'm not sure why - lol:

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
I guess she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled insider her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
I guess she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a bird.
How absurd! To swallow a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled insider her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
I guess she'll die.

(Continue verses)
Cat . . . Imagine that! She swallowed a cat.
Dog . . . What a hog! She swallowed a dog.
Goat . . . She opened her throat and in walked a goat.
Cow . . . I don't know how she swallowed that cow.

There was an old lady, she swallowed a horse.
She died of course!

My taste in rhyme graduated to absurdists like Lear and Carroll after that, and while I still believe rhyme has a place in poetry, especially in humour, I think that these days I'm more interested in what people can do with words. I adore anagrams, palindromes, heteropalindromes and there are so many ways to rhyme that I'm never sure how we all don't take full advantage of all the possibilities.

Pure rhyme kind of bores me these days, especially in "I love You", "Do Me", "You broke my bleeding heart" and BDSM poems here on Lit. I try to like rhymes in these contexts, but I'm simply not 15 years old anymore.

 

[mynameisben]

I'm pretty much with you on this one, Ang, but I'll step a bit further into the mud because I just want to know everyone's first favourite poetry rhyme.

I still get a giggle out of my favourite childhood poem, though I'm not sure why - lol:

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
I guess she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled insider her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
I guess she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a bird.
How absurd! To swallow a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled insider her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
I guess she'll die.

(Continue verses)
Cat . . . Imagine that! She swallowed a cat.
Dog . . . What a hog! She swallowed a dog.
Goat . . . She opened her throat and in walked a goat.
Cow . . . I don't know how she swallowed that cow.

There was an old lady, she swallowed a horse.
She died of course!

My taste in rhyme graduated to absurdists like Lear and Carroll after that, and while I still believe rhyme has a place in poetry, especially in humour, I think that these days I'm more interested in what people can do with words. I adore anagrams, palindromes, heteropalindromes and there are so many ways to rhyme that I'm never sure how we all don't take full advantage of all the possibilities.

Pure rhyme kind of bores me these days, especially in "I love You", "Do Me", "You broke my bleeding heart" and BDSM poems here on Lit. I try to like rhymes in these contexts, but I'm simply not 15 years old anymore.

Because it's a poem about a woman who loves to swallow.

 

[Angeline]

I'm pretty much with you on this one, Ang, but I'll step a bit further into the mud because I just want to know everyone's first favourite poetry rhyme.

I still get a giggle out of my favourite childhood poem, though I'm not sure why - lol:

THERE WAS AN OLD LADY

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
I guess she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled insider her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
I guess she'll die.

There was an old lady who swallowed a bird.
How absurd! To swallow a bird!
She swallowed the bird to catch the spider
That wiggled and jiggled and tickled insider her.
She swallowed the spider to catch the fly.
I don't know why she swallowed a fly.
I guess she'll die.

(Continue verses)
Cat . . . Imagine that! She swallowed a cat.
Dog . . . What a hog! She swallowed a dog.
Goat . . . She opened her throat and in walked a goat.
Cow . . . I don't know how she swallowed that cow.

There was an old lady, she swallowed a horse.
She died of course!

My taste in rhyme graduated to absurdists like Lear and Carroll after that, and while I still believe rhyme has a place in poetry, especially in humour, I think that these days I'm more interested in what people can do with words. I adore anagrams, palindromes, heteropalindromes and there are so many ways to rhyme that I'm never sure how we all don't take full advantage of all the possibilities.

Pure rhyme kind of bores me these days, especially in "I love You", "Do Me", "You broke my bleeding heart" and BDSM poems here on Lit. I try to like rhymes in these contexts, but I'm simply not 15 years old anymore.

When the OP said he loves rhyme and therefore Robert Frost, I did think (with my limited knowledge of Frost) that aside from Fire and Ice, I don't associate noticible rhyme with Frost. But mebbe that what the OP likes about Frost. It's one of the things I like about Yeats...

Also rhyming poetry that is lyrical (like Shakespeare's sonnets) is lovely, but most strong rhyme sounds silly (and ergo kinda lightweight) or too sing-songy to me. But that's just my taste as I've said.

Piet Hein's Grooks are, imho, kind of sophisticated rhymey little poems.

 

[Tzara]

Do you prefer classical rhyming poetry, or more modern free verse?

Either, or.

I like form (assuming you mean by "classical rhyming poetry" something like traditional form poetry) and I like free verse. I like poetry that works for me (i.e., says something meaningful to me) and sometimes that is manifest as formal verse, rhymes and all, and sometimes that is manifest as vers libre.

Though I also think most free verse, at least most "good" free verse, is much more structured than most casual readers think.

For me, it's rhyming. My favorite poet is Robert Frost.

...who uses rhyme sparingly. Some poems are rhymed ("The Road Not Taken," "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"), while others are not ("Mending Wall," "The Death of the Hired Hand").

Do you like only the rhymed poems?

 

[serpentwrap]

Though I also think most free verse, at least most "good" free verse, is much more structured than most casual readers think.

Precisely. I so totally agree with this. Free verse may not have aabb kinda rhyming scheme, but great free verses are so structured in their metres and syntax that it is indeed a pleasure to read. Prufock by Eliot is an example I can think off the cuff.

 

[The_Fool]

There is no such thing as poetry.



There. I haven't said it for a while.

 

[Tzara]

There is no such thing as poetry.



There. I haven't said it for a while.

Distracting picture:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7GpHEu4_Cf4/TxaAW6AA6jI/AAAAAAAABNA/_ul7jf61CD4/s1600/kim-kardashian-no-clothes-15.jpg













OK, enough of that.

You know these periodic pronouncements make you kind of the fuzzy bear of the forum. Cranky, but a bit soft around the middle, like a fond father who has been polishing that bicycle he insists you aren't old enough to ride and who then rolls it out for you on your birthday after you thought you'd received all your presents.

I'm still waiting for that sestina, though.

 

[The_Fool]

Distracting picture:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7GpHEu4_Cf4/TxaAW6AA6jI/AAAAAAAABNA/_ul7jf61CD4/s1600/kim-kardashian-no-clothes-15.jpg













OK, enough of that.

You know these periodic pronouncements make you kind of the fuzzy bear of the forum. Cranky, but a bit soft around the middle, like a fond father who has been polishing that bicycle he insists you aren't old enough to ride and who then rolls it out for you on your birthday after you thought you'd received all your presents.

I'm still waiting for that sestina, though.

No Sestina from me until I see one for DisposaGirl.

 

[Angeline]

No Sestina from me until I see one for DisposaGirl.

She's in France, Pops.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Holds my hand up for the Forms ........ as long as it's done properly and not cringe worthy yoda speak

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Maybe we should have a form poem challenge for each month as well as a libre challenge?

 

[UnderYourSpell]

Maybe we should have a form poem challenge for each month as well as a libre challenge?

Tz would win hands down! But I would still enjoy taking part

 

[PandoraGlitters]

Tz would win hands down! But I would still enjoy taking part

Oof, maybe starting with the Villanelle wasn't so good. Should've started with Limericks.

 

[twelveoone]

Either, or.

I like form (assuming you mean by "classical rhyming poetry" something like traditional form poetry) and I like free verse. I like poetry that works for me (i.e., says something meaningful to me) and sometimes that is manifest as formal verse, rhymes and all, and sometimes that is manifest as vers libre.

Though I also think most free verse, at least most "good" free verse, is much more structured than most casual readers think.

...who uses rhyme sparingly. Some poems are rhymed ("The Road Not Taken," "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening"), while others are not ("Mending Wall," "The Death of the Hired Hand").

Do you like only the rhymed poems?

or at least functions in an entirely different way

most sensible answers i've seen in a thread of this sort
vers libre.
btw, came across and interesting passage, "Powell belongs to the ...first generation of American poets who may grown up without a vestigial connection to the accentual-syllabic rhyming English tradition" Steven Burt talking about D.A. Powell in Close Calls with Nonsense -Reading new Poetry/I] p.122
glad you're reading Frost, do you know who was one of his biggest influences on writing?
William James

mine was Jesse, so I feel a kinship of sorts

 

[Black13]

Holds my hand up for the Forms ........ as long as it's done properly and not cringe worthy yoda speak

Not into Dickinson then?
One of my favorite lines of hers: "Though I than he may longer live, he longer must than I."

Make sense, does that almost not.