"rhyme is seen as anachronistic by most poets"

[DavidF]

Shem wrote:

i could listen to it played through a potato.

A successful poem has a completeness to it. I think the reason forms, meter, rhyme maintain their interest for poets is that they are a beautiful set of bones. A strong skeleton under a piece can pull the reader along in a satisfying way. Ideally, the poem surrounds it and the reader only sees it when they think Why did this work so well? It's tough but fun to try, and when it works you have something stronger than its parts.

Hi Shem, I'm David, I'm new.

Often when I hear someone talk passionately and spontaneously about something that they care about I hear form and metre emerge naturally. And this form not always small. A drunken ten minute monologue can have more structure, symmetry and invention than a planned work.

I worry that when rhythm is rejected in favour of a series of declaimed images an important door has been closed. The one which allows poems to grow naturally into the world.

And sometimes another door opens. And from this door the poet, rapt, hopes to see themselves emerge, resplendent in the garb of fashion.

I prefer Mr Benn.

D.