I couldn't help it .... HAD to share ...

[Neville Briggs]

That's it Marty I hadn't heard that before.

[Zondrae]

... And I bet Marty didn't type that cra. .. (umm what will I call it).. that piece into his computer!

I would put money on a massive 'cut and paste' job.

mm some of the lines are amusing, every so slightly, as for being poetic or intelligently expressive.. well - to my eye, ear or thoughts they're not. Now, if I were to arrange this little paragraph into some funny stepped setting out, would it be a poem? Let me try. Seriously, I wish to know, to learn, to be correct.

mm some of the lines are amusing,
ever so slightly,
as for being poetic or intelligently expressive..
well - to my eye, ear or thoughts they're not.
Now,
if I were to arrange this little paragraph
into some funny
stepped
setting out,
would it be a poem?
if not, why not?

So can someone tell me what the rules are, that guide a learner to correctly writing a free verse poem. Or are there no rules? If there are no rules how do you tell a poem from some random lines.

[David Campbell]

Hi Zondrae

I wouldn't say there are 'rules' to free verse, not in the sense that we rely on regular metre and perfect rhyme for bush poetry, but there are techniques you can use. I won't take up space here, but if you're interested you'll find one of my free verse pieces, plus a judge's comment, at: http://sites.google.com/site/fawnorthsh ... ry-results

It's a competition you know because you won the traditional poetry section, so you may already have seen it, but if you'd like to fire a few questions at me via a pm about what I wrote and why I'll try to answer them.

Cheers
David

[Neville Briggs]

Zondrae, Marty's piece is a satire on post-modernist thought and free verse. I don't think one is meant to try and scan or analyse it's form with any serious intent.

I'm afraid Zondrae that searching for the rules of free verse will take you nowhere. Someone has said that free verse writing is like being Robinson Crusoe, you have to construct everything yourself.

Zondrae, if you are interested in broadening your poetic horizons, why don't you try some different forms like, a sonnet, a villanelle,an ode, a ballade, or even a pantoum, now there's a challenge. And these are all metred and rhymed forms.

[Maureen K Clifford]

You might like this one Zondrae even if it doesn't scan or rhyme

Togetherness

He wore a dead man’s suit and stood on the edge of the pathway
scuffing the dirt with the toe of his boot as the doorbell chimed
long remembered chimes through the old house .

He heard laughter and running footsteps as the door swung open
Season’s greetings were shouted along with ‘welcome home.’
He was embraced in his mother’s arms.

His sweating hands left blurry fingerprints on the worn red laminex tabletop.
The collar of his shirt felt tight and hot and scratchy
and his new boots pinched something chronic.

But the meaning of life was here
his family gathered around him.
How could he have forgotten and cast them aside?

Her plumey tail wagged and her grizzled muzzle rested on his knee.
Rheumy old eyes gazed into brown eyes.
The golden haired man stroked the golden haired dog.

This was togetherness. and both were once again happy.

[Zondrae]

G'day Maureen,

I understand that this is a nice sentimental bit of writing and has that aaahh factor. Please don't get me wrong, I have read some beautiful pieces that are written in 'other' forms. eg, I love the discipline of the Haiku.

I think if I were to meet more free verse writers who were truly open to accepting that my chosen form is as valid as they think free verse is, I might have other feelings about it.

Thanks, David, I might take you up on the offer. I feel honoured to be offered some of your insight. My husband has just had a skin cancer removed today ( it was like a 'witches wart' on his nose) so I'll be nursie for few days. But I hope I do find time to follow up on this.

[Heather]

Zondrae I'm sure Wayne is thrilled to know you shared that with us!