by Marijane Suttor

Created on: September 12, 2008

Free verse poetry is an unconstrained poem that sets no limits on the imagination of the poet. In our reader's eye we see a poem as having meter, rhythm and rhyme, perhaps a sing-song poem from our youth. If we define a poem as having many qualifying literary elements, why then is free verse a poetic form that so many poets choose to write in?

1. Freedom. This is the beauty of a free verse poem. The ideas of the poem can be transformed on to the page without worry of a set number of syllables or a set rhyme scheme that can dictate the word choice in a poem.

2. Open for literary elements. Just because it is free verse does not mean that there will not be literary elements within the poem. Many poets will incorporate alliteration, assonance, consonance, onomatopoeia, and internal rhyme. Free verse allows for the poet to incorporate literary components where desired rather than being dictated by a format.

3. 21st century thinking. I believe that part of the reason free verse has been embraced is that it is more reflective of our society today. We are less formal and uptight. People are more willing to step out of the box and be unconstrained by expectations in many other aspects of their lives. Poets are no different. So part of the engagement with free verse comes from today's lifestyle.

4. Length. One of the great aspects of free verse is the ability to write a poem with as many lines as the poet desires. There are times when a poem may want to telescope in on one minute image such as the fuzz on a caterpillar or a raindrop on a car window. The poet may write a poem of 10 words if desired or it can be expanded to 10 lines and so on. It gives the poet the opportunity to expand or contract the words as desired.

5. Word choice. Free verse poetry allows for a variety of word choice. Often readers find Shakespeare to be difficult to read. Students will say "Why didn't he write normal?". Although Shakespeare presents his own unique opportunity for analysis, not every poet wants to write in this manner which is dictated by forms such as the sonnet or blank verse in his plays. Shakespeare often reversed his word orders, shortened words, and even put unlikely words in combination, largely because he was trying to meet the requirements of form.

6. Topics. Some topics lend themselves to informality. I imagine a poet could write an ode to doggie doodoo, but perhaps the less formal free verse form lends itself better to the topic.

7. Impact. When there is not a set rhythm, meter

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