How do you do rhyme-less poetry?

[SamanthaBehgs]

Okay, so I know non-rhyming poetry exists and I went through the Thread of Forms to find the relatively sparse selection of forms mentioned there. Each example gave a set meter for that version of non-rhyming poem.

But I also know I've read great poetry here on Lit that has neither a set meter (or at least, none that I necessarily saw) nor a rhyming scheme (again, unless I missed it). I loved them, but I wonder: How do you do it?

What is your process for writing this type of poetry? How do you decide where the line breaks are? How do you distinguish it from beautiful prose? (I know I saw a post about beautiful prose being rejected as poetry for being too close to prose at one point). I couldn't find any answers in my search, so I wonder if this is the place to find out more, even if everyone has a slightly different process.

 

[forestpoet]

If a poem is both lacking rhyme and meter, this is generally going to be lumped under the umbrella of "free verse". Free verse poetry is generally liked by writers because it affords maximum creativity in terms of line breaks, word choice, and flow. If you were to try writing free verse, you could get experimental with the line breaks, but usually they're going to be placed with a specific intention in mind, most commonly being used to emphasize ideas within the poem.

The primary difference between free verse poetry and beautiful prose is the fact that free verse poetry doesn't follow standard conventions in terms of punctuation, or even capitalization. There is such a thing as poetic prose, which is where the border between the two would get blurry. But again speaking generally, poetic prose will still follow all the rules of prose, whereas free verse poetry will not.

I hope this helps a bit! I'm always happy to discuss poetry, so if you want to hear more thoughts on this, just let me know

 

[Tzara]

Hi Samantha.

The kind of poetry I think you're asking about is free verse (or, vers libre as it was originally called in French). Free verse is normally taken to mean poetry that has no regular meter or regular rhyme. It is the dominant form of poetry (at least in English) from the later 20th century to now.

Aside from a definition that is something like that, it is difficult to describe. It may or may not have line breaks, for example (poems without line breaks are known as prose poetry). If it does have line breaks, the breaks may be end-stopped (i.e. the line ends at some kind of grammatical break) or enjambed (lines which do not end on a break and so "carry over" to the following line). The poem may make use of techniques such as alliteration, consonance, assonance, metaphor, simile, etc. so the differentiation between poetry and "beautiful prose" may be difficult to distinguish. Prose poems, for example, are often described as flash fiction and vice versa.

Probably one of the most important elements of poetry in general, whether form poetry or free verse, is its featuring of imagery. Poems try to invoke images that convey emotion, setting, even action. Take this poem by William Carols Williams:

Poem

As the cat
climbed over
the top of

the jamcloset
first the right
forefoot

carefully
then the hind
stepped down

into the pit of
the empty
flowerpot
​

The poem creates a picture of a cat carefully walking along an uneven surface—not really anything more than that. The words it uses are almost all quite straightforward, common words with the exception of "jamcloset," which might have been more common back when Williams wrote the poem. Structurally, the poem is basically a declarative sentence ("As the cat climbed over the top of the jamcloset..."). There are no metaphors or similes and no punctuation.

But the image created by the poem is more vivid than that which one gets from the statement alone because of how Williams has chosen to lineate the poem. The way the line breaks are placed gives the reader the impression of the herky-jerky, yet carefully precise way the cat is traversing across the cabinet and down to the flowerpot. Lineated differently, say like this:

As the cat climbed over
the top of the jamcloset

first the right forefoot carefully
then the hind stepped down

into the pit of the empty flowerpot
​

the imagery is dulled and uninteresting.

So. I would suggest if you want to start experimenting with free verse, you might pick a simple subject or image and write something that focuses on making the imagery as vivid as you can. Short poems are a good place to start. Play around with your subject, including perhaps writing three or four versions of the poem that emphasize different aspects of the image you are trying to capture.

And, of course, have fun.

 

[SmilingLez]

Hi Samantha.

The kind of poetry I think you're asking about is free verse (or, vers libre as it was originally called in French). Free verse is normally taken to mean poetry that has no regular meter or regular rhyme. It is the dominant form of poetry (at least in English) from the later 20th century to now.

Aside from a definition that is something like that, it is difficult to describe. It may or may not have line breaks, for example (poems without line breaks are known as prose poetry). If it does have line breaks, the breaks may be end-stopped (i.e. the line ends at some kind of grammatical break) or enjambed (lines which do not end on a break and so "carry over" to the following line). The poem may make use of techniques such as alliteration, consonance, assonance, metaphor, simile, etc. so the differentiation between poetry and "beautiful prose" may be difficult to distinguish. Prose poems, for example, are often described as flash fiction and vice versa.

Probably one of the most important elements of poetry in general, whether form poetry or free verse, is its featuring of imagery. Poems try to invoke images that convey emotion, setting, even action. Take this poem by William Carols Williams:

​

Poem​

​

As the cat​

climbed over​

the top of​

​

the jamcloset​

first the right​

forefoot​

​

carefully​

then the hind​

stepped down​

​

into the pit of​

the empty​

flowerpot​

​

The poem creates a picture of a cat carefully walking along an uneven surface—not really anything more than that. The words it uses are almost all quite straightforward, common words with the exception of "jamcloset," which might have been more common back when Williams wrote the poem. Structurally, the poem is basically a declarative sentence ("As the cat climbed over the top of the jamcloset..."). There are no metaphors or similes and no punctuation.

But the image created by the poem is more vivid than that which one gets from the statement alone because of how Williams has chosen to lineate the poem. The way the line breaks are placed gives the reader the impression of the herky-jerky, yet carefully precise way the cat is traversing across the cabinet and down to the flowerpot. Lineated differently, say like this:

​

As the cat climbed over​

the top of the jamcloset​

​

first the right forefoot carefully​

then the hind stepped down​

​

into the pit of the empty flowerpot​

​

the imagery is dulled and uninteresting.

So. I would suggest if you want to start experimenting with free verse, you might pick a simple subject or image and write something that focuses on making the imagery as vivid as you can. Short poems are a good place to start. Play around with your subject, including perhaps writing three or four versions of the poem that emphasize different aspects of the image you are trying to capture.

And, of course, have fun.

Or you can go haiku


Cat climbs the closet,
Right foot first, then the hind,
Into the flowerpot.

 

[Tzara]

Or you can go haiku


Cat climbs the closet,
Right foot first, then the hind,
Into the flowerpot.

cat's finicky foot
lightly placed just here, then there—
a dancer en pointe

 

[ConstantineIII]

cat's finicky foot
lightly placed just here, then there—
a dancer en pointe

I am not normally a fan of Haikus, but I have to give credit where it is due. Fine job.

 

[Angeline]

Hi Samantha

I've been thinking about your question. You've gotten great responses already but it's a big question and people will have different opinions.

I think many people believe free verse equates to no rules or write whatever you want. Many people think that's being creative: I write what needs to spill out of me and I'm done. And for many people that's good and enough. More power to them.

But as you point out, even in free verse there are choices about line breaks, space, punctuation. Tbh anytime you choose one word over another you've made a choice. So even free verse isn't really free.

Personally I don't worry about differences between poetry, prose poetry, flash fiction and whatever else people choose to call it. I write what I want and if someone else wants to put a label on it that's fine. Once I share what I write I've no control over how others define it. And I'd rather write than put time into stuff I've no control over!

My process is to write and edit, sometimes simultaneously, usually not. Usually my first draft is just spilling my ideas of what I want to say. Then I go back and read, think about my word choices (are they precise? do they convey the image and/or tone I want?); line breaks (am I breaking in the right place? do I want to break on a strong or ambiguous word, which best serves what I want to convey?); space (will it help if I put extra space between lines, will it strengthen an image I think is important?); punctuation. Sometimes it serves my purpose to punctuate but not always. And all these decisions can happen in a single sitting or over many revisions of the poem. Sometimes I need to put a poem aside for a while then come back to it. I often find that lets me see ways to improve it I hadn't noticed before. Sometimes I revisit old (sometimes very old) poems and see better ways (because I've grown) and I rewrite them.

That's just my process, what works for me. The more you write the more you figure it out for yourself. It's a journey, one I've loved being on as it both frustrates and exhilarates me but that's learning, right?

My best advice to you is to read a lot of free verse. There are great sites like The Poetry Foundation where you can explore and find poems you'll love. When you do, think about why you love them. Is it the images, the way the lines break, etc.? Then try to emulate what you love in your own writing. Keep at it and over time you'll find what works for you.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

Thank you everyone for all the thoughts and ideas. I'm such a sucker for rules that a form that doesn't have any strict set of rules and instead goes more along the lines of "find what works for you and the sound that you're going for" is far more intimidating to me than even trying to write an actually good Paradelle. Free Verse and the American Sentence both vex me, which makes them a mountain I will, eventually, figure out how to climb - and I appreciate your guidance in getting there.

 

[Statius]

I always kinda felt free verse hit it's stride in American English with a lot of Whitman's verse. Not all of it of course, but Leaves of Grass does have a great deal of free verse, blank verse.

 

[Angeline]

Thank you everyone for all the thoughts and ideas. I'm such a sucker for rules that a form that doesn't have any strict set of rules and instead goes more along the lines of "find what works for you and the sound that you're going for" is far more intimidating to me than even trying to write an actually good Paradelle. Free Verse and the American Sentence both vex me, which makes them a mountain I will, eventually, figure out how to climb - and I appreciate your guidance in getting there.

This forum is a good place to experiment. You can try things, ask for feedback, join any challenge that appeals to you. I've been here since 2002 and what's kept me here is kindness and support. There are a lot of people here who love poetry and enjoy writing and growing with others who feel the same. It's our little oasis.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

This forum is a good place to experiment. You can try things, ask for feedback, join any challenge that appeals to you. I've been here since 2002 and what's kept me here is kindness and support. There are a lot of people here who love poetry and enjoy writing and growing with others who feel the same. It's our little oasis.

Is there a specific Free Verse thread that I should be directing my attempts to, or just stick to one of the "of the week" threads or otherwise?

 

[Angeline]

Is there a specific Free Verse thread that I should be directing my attempts to, or just stick to one of the "of the week" threads or otherwise?

You can explore: there are many threads here that have loads of good poetry, not dedicated to free verse but lots in them. The Five Senses Challenge, Everyday Erotica, 30 Poems in 30 Days, All of a Sudden Passion Suddenly all have loads of good poetry. And there's an old thread Archival Review that has loads of poems from past years here. Some have been removed from threads as people leave but lots of good stuff remains.

And there's a world of great poetry to explore beyond this site. The Poetry Foundation, which I linked in my first post in the thread, is a great starting point.

I'm just naming threads as they come to mind. Folks if I'm missing good ones please jump in and help Samantha out!

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

You can explore: there are many threads here that have loads of good poetry, not dedicated to free verse but lots in them. The Five Senses Challenge, Everyday Erotica, 30 Poems in 30 Days, All of a Sudden Passion Suddenly all have loads of good poetry. And there's an old thread Archival Review that has loads of poems from past years here. Some have been removed from threads as people leave but lots of good stuff remains.

And there's a world of great poetry to explore beyond this site. The Poetry Foundation, which I linked in my first post in the thread, is a great starting point.

I'm just naming threads as they come to mind. Folks if I'm missing good ones please jump in and help Samantha out!

Thank you. I've been reading many of those, I just wasn't sure if that's where I should post my own attempts as I work out the kinks (pun intended) of learning.

 

[Angeline]

Thank you. I've been reading many of those, I just wasn't sure if that's where I should post my own attempts as I work out the kinks (pun intended) of learning.

My friend you are welcome to post wherever you like here. A few threads are for poems only (so no comments, etc), but they'll say so in the title or first post in the thread And if you have questions about any of the challenges just ask.

 

[42BelowsBack]

I am not normally a fan of Haikus, but I have to give credit where it is due. Fine job.

I’m not a fan of feet but that was a mighty fine foot job.

 

[42BelowsBack]

ARS POETICA

THE 13, 10, 12(?) FREE VERSE COMANDMENTS

1. Oh thou free verse poem, how like a sermon, you need not make sense, but woe betide thy fool of a poem that lacks an inner logic and fails to take the reader with it. And has many words. Surpurfluos.
2. Thou shalt show not tell! Beware of thy adverbs and adjectives.
3. Let the salt of thy poems be found in thy verbs and nouns.
4. 
   
5. Thou shalt not fake orgasms as figures of speech. Lest thy clitoris be smitten.
6. A penis is a dick is a prick, is a cock is craftiness. Be not fools writing lines that have nothing to do with anything; I have a hard on.
7. Let thy linebreaks be not random.
8. Seek and welcome thee thy chastisement. Lest thy penance be to read and reread your own poems.
9. 
   
10. The devil in the detail: Craft is paramount; form equals function– shape cannot be underestimated. But don’t be a fucken mess.
11. Strive to keep thee the right note. When sucking cock. Work on thy tone discovering the appropriate voice. Lest thy cock believes you are not enjoying it.

10. Follow your ear. Pussy on your mind. Go where you are led. Ask, what have we here? Non binary lines!


11. Mmmmm Revise, mmmm revise, mmm revise. mm? M. Masturbation technique is freedom.


12. Ahem. Thou shalt taste thy words with thy tongue, feel their sounds fill thy mouth. And spit me out.

 

[SamanthaBehgs]

ARS POETICA

THE 13, 10, 12(?) FREE VERSE COMANDMENTS

1. Oh thou free verse poem, how like a sermon, you need not make sense, but woe betide thy fool of a poem that lacks an inner logic and fails to take the reader with it. And has many words. Surpurfluos.
2. Thou shalt show not tell! Beware of thy adverbs and adjectives.
3. Let the salt of thy poems be found in thy verbs and nouns.
4. 
   
5. Thou shalt not fake orgasms as figures of speech. Lest thy clitoris be smitten.
6. A penis is a dick is a prick, is a cock is craftiness. Be not fools writing lines that have nothing to do with anything; I have a hard on.
7. Let thy linebreaks be not random.
8. Seek and welcome thee thy chastisement. Lest thy penance be to read and reread your own words.
9. 
   
10. The devil in the detail: Craft is paramount; shape/form – cannot be underestimated. Technique is freedom. But don’t be a fucken mess.
11. Strive to keep thee the right note. When sucking cock. Work on thy tone discovering the appropriate voice. Lest thy cock believes you are not enjoying it.

10. Follow your ear. Pussy on your mind. Go where you are led. Ask, what have we here? Non binary lines!


11. Mmmmm Revise, mmmm revise, mmm revise. mm? m!


12. Ahem. Thou shalt taste thy words with thy tongue, feel their sounds fill thy mouth. And spit me out.

Compelling rules you've got there.