something i wrote in 1999

by doreen peri

Posted to Utterances on 2003-03-15 10:38:00

Parent message is 403831
“I guess it’s hard for me to unlearn years of conventional wisdom that says contemporary poetry is unrhymed free verse” –

where’d you hear that? there are many contemporary poets who use rhyme. hiphop and rap are good examples but other well respected contemporary writers incorporate rhyme. It’s a great tool if it’s used well. It’s difficult to use end-rhyme without sounding sing-songy but it can be done. I use rhyme a lot, but usually focus on using it internally, within the lines. Assonance is even a better, more effective tool, in my opinion. Poetry is music. The rhythm and cadence matter. Rhyme is a tool of the craft which should not be dismissed as invalid just because it is used in structured verse styles which are very old. It is especially effective in spoken word stage presentations.

Here’s something I wrote in 1999 on this topic.



To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme– (is that a question?)

Part I.

Some do not like a poem that rhymes–
no matter what the words —
This seems quite crazy, ignorant
and very much absurd —

And then there’s those who dislike poems
which show a heart and soul-
Despite the lack of metered rhyme-
They claim there’s much untold.

But as for me, I like a poem
that has some substance but….
If it rhymes, I think that’s fine,
and if it don’t, so what?
__________________________
Part II.

Write from your heart
like blood dripping deep
from the core
of your soul
and the hole that is empty
will fill up with gold
and your mind will expand
to horizons not yet noticed —
beyond graveyards,
deep-seated passions,
pain, love and glee —
and the wedding of your eyes
to the mountains of truth inside
will meld
with rhapsody
instantly signified.
Write as if
your memory’s denied.
Write as if the you inside
is ready to be born.

Write as if
it is the dawn —

the morn

and then begone
with critic scorn.

Be free and
let your worry cease.
And with your pen
make peace.