To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme, That Is the Question

I started publishing poems on Vocal about a year ago. I have never really been much of a poet, and to this day, I do not consider myself anywhere near good.

In that time, I have published just over 250 poems. Some are short haiku poems. Of the rest, only two or three are free verse. I have always believed that poetry must have rhyme!

Perhaps it is because, when I was younger, playing in a band at university, I wrote many original songs. They all rhymed, and I used to wrestle with the words to ensure they rhymed.

Rhyme vs. free verse

In poetry, rhyming means “the repetition of syllables, usually at the end of a line.” These end rhymes form patterns known as rhyme schemes. A rhyme scheme is made up of the pattern of end rhymes that forms a stanza (a paragraph or verse in poetic terms).

There are countless rhyming schemes. They depend on what is rhyming, how many lines there are, and which of those lines are going to rhyme. It can get very complicated, and I am not the one to go into all the theory. There are books written about it.

Free verse poetry has no regular rhyme, meter, or musical structure. In the crudest sense, it is an “emotional dump of words” by the author. I am not being cynical or critical of free verse poetry. I just like the bounce and motivation that rhyming poetry provides. Good rhyme almost makes the words dance as they move through the subject matter.

Historically, rhyming poetry helped people remember the content or subject matter. Before the advent of printing presses, tales and events were relayed in rhyming poems.

Rhyming often gets a bad name. I've observed that in the Poet Vocal community, many lean toward free verse rather than rhyming poetry. I will return to this later.

Some feel that rhyming poetry is juvenile, and it can be like reading a children’s book. It can’t be too bad. Even Shakespeare used rhyming in his poetry. Arguably, the lasting power of his words might have diminished without rhyme.

Supporters of free verse poetry argue that it allows them to experiment with line breaks, imagery, and language. This leads to a unique and personal expression of their artistic vision. Free verse is flexible. It lets poets experiment more since they don't need to rhyme words. It can also include natural language, which is how we typically communicate with others. This is often more relatable than rhyming poetry.

Many new poets default to free verse because it feels easier. Without guidelines, poetry can become a disorganised mix of jumbled thoughts. Writing good free verse is tough. It requires skill to build rhythm, sound, and form without adhering to traditional rules.

The matter at hand

I thought the Poet Community favoured free verse poems.

A quick look at the last twenty top stories (poems) in the Poet community shows that 65% are free verse and 35% are rhyming. The winner of the last competition for the Poet community was also a rhyming poem. There may be some bias, but it is not as severe as I had presumed.

Some of the creators I follow have mastered rhyming. Their poems flow smoothly, with an ebb and flow that reflects their sentiment. For example,

• Marie381Uk (https://vocal.media/authors/marie381-uk)

• Kelli Sheckler-Amsden (https://vocal.media/authors/kelli-sheckler-amsden)
• Mike Singleton (https://vocal.media/authors/mike-singleton-mikeydred), the master of Villanelle)
• Sara Wilson (https://vocal.media/authors/sara-wilson-bv5zbx0nq8)

Others, like Andrea Corwin https://vocal.media/authors/andrea-corwin) and Caitlin Charlton (https://vocal.media/authors/caitlin-charlton-gv6f0u8f), write deep and meaningful free verse.

(Sorry to the great poets I did not mention. I just have not had the chance to follow you yet.)

Writers should focus on what they enjoy. They should write what brings them satisfaction, whether it's rhyming or free verse poetry. Both have their place. If you enjoy writing rhyming poems, continue to do so. If you prefer free verse, the same advice applies.

I will keep exploring free verse poetry. I enjoy the challenge and the chance to try new things. Maybe try “the other side,” whichever way you lean. You might be pleasantly surprised!

Till next time

Calvin