Is Formal Poetry A Form Of Literary Bondage?

Introduction

This was prompted by a comment on my poem "Boat" by Judey Kachik. You can read it here:

The music for this is, of course, "Oh Bondage, Up Yours" by X-Ray Spex fronted by the sadly missed Poly Styrene.

The Bondage Of Formal Poetry

I find formal poetry a comfort because it keeps me on track, but does that mean it has me in bondage to rhyme, syllables, lines, form and a million other things?

If you write free-form, you have no limits, but you need to construct some form to make the end product worthy of being read and to get the point across. I sometimes go free-form but feel a bit lazy, as though I am not keeping within the rules, though that may be my vaguely autistic tendencies.

I know other writers cannot write using formal constructs, whereas I find them very easy.

Does that make me lazy or constrained? Is writing a villanelle or sonnet like slipping into bondage gear?

Some people like it, others loathe it.

As I say, I do prefer formal poetry forms, and believe that I have used more different forms that any one else on the Vocal platform. Others have taught me new forms as well, which I often pick up.

Although I have used them in the past, I tend to shun some of the simpler forms, although I may use them in challenges.

Conclusion

I do feel formal poetry helps me write rather than constrains me, so I will leave you with my two pieces on how to write a villanelle and a pantoum (both include videos) and an excellent list of poetry forms that I use to try new forms.