Free verse is a modern form of poetry that does not follow specific rhyme or meter. It was popularized by Whitman and Dickinson, and later embraced by rebellious young poets. It continued to evolve throughout the 20th century, with ee cummings pushing its limits. Despite its lack of structure, the best free verse poets still have a respect for the art.
Free verse is a modern form of poetry that does not follow any specific rhyme or metrical pattern, although it does not completely abandon the basic poetic precepts of lofty speech and sounds. This type of poetry is said to have been popularized by notable poets such as Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson during the late 19th century, although earlier poets such as the mystic William Blake were beginning to break free from the restrictions of the formal poetry of their time. Whitman’s signature collection, Leaves of Grass, is almost entirely composed of free verse poems. Dickinson, however, still wrote much of his poetry to the meter and rhyme of a favorite hymn composer.
This style of poetry soon became popular with rebellious young poets such as the Frenchman Artur Rimbaud, who wrote many of his best free verse before the age of 18. Other poets embraced the form as a way to express raw emotion or an unbridled passion not generally found in the formal poetry of their time. Whitman himself called this artistic awakening the great YAWP, a call to all artists to break free from social conventions and live life to the fullest.
Free verse poetry continued to evolve throughout the 20th century, beginning with poets such as Carl Sandburg and Robert Frost, both equally comfortable with this form and with formal poetry. Other poets, such as Amy Lowell and Edna St. Vincent Millay, however, were primarily known for their often scathing verse poetry. The witty writer Dorothy Parker has used it to address the social and political issues of her generation. Perhaps the most admired poet in this style was the expatriate Ezra Pound, who became a mentor to many of the 20th century’s most famous authors and poets.
Perhaps the poet who pushed the limits of free verse the most was ee cummings, an artist and poet whose work reflected the jagged sensibilities of the jazz age. Cumming’s poetry has completely abandoned the classical form in favor of an idiosyncratic language and a striking visual construction. While some modern literary critics may consider cummings more of a style than a substance, many poets working in this style today credit it as an inspiration. While the style may seem like an opportunity to compose lesser works, the best free verse poets still have a respect for the art and a method for their madness.
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