I’ve a theory, Fia 😏

Lines of poetry that most appeal are those the reader has felt and most easily relate to … either that, or have fantasized and dreamed.💫

I thought you might find a little bit of favor in this one.

Fia, your reviews are always like a happy hug!
Thank you ever-so warmly! ⁓ Richard🙏

Hello, Benjamin 🙏

It’s a distinct pleasure to meet you and to receive your graciously appreciative review for one of my humble pieces.

If you’d the mind to, I’ve no doubt you could use my American Sestet format to compose a virtual masterpiece of your own, that every poetess and poet would envy … and, I must take issue with your comment, “for undisciplined free-verse poets (such as myself)”. I say this, because there’s nothing simple or easy about Free Verse poetry … in fact, due to its lack of pre-set structure, it’s one of the most complex and skill required of all poetic forms, when composed properly.

Then, I thought seriously about whether to include the session on Free Verse from my group “Back to Poetry Basics” to explain why I said above, that “I must take issue with your comment.” And, decided, “Why not? It’s free and will exemplify exactly what I meant.”
I would love it if you join-in with the group, too: https://starsrite.com/groups/back-to-basics/

So, here it is:
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SESSION THREE
Wednesday, November 11th, 2025
This session will be on the Free Verse form.

~———————————•§•———————————~

FREE VERSE

Because its unrhymed without a set meter or syllable count, the Free Verse is considered the most versatile of poetic forms. But, to be powerfully effective, it must flow smoothly and is NOT a narrative or prose form … it must have a poetic voice, spoken with rhythmic word-flow, with thoughts, feelings, emotion, and expressions grouped into verses, with appropriate line-breaks and enjambments.

“Properly” composed Free Verse poetry will display correct grammar, including capitalization and punctuation … in other words, composed in such a way that any reader can follow and understand what the author intends and wants them to grasp in rhythm, speed, mood, inference of thought, feeling,, meaning, and emotional timbre (‘tambor’ – voice quality, tone color, tonality, resonance, etc.

The heartbeat of Free Verse is imagery, metaphor, poetic syntax, and poetic voice, well-placed line-breaks and smooth enjambments.


“Iambics” work well with Free Verse, too.


There is no limit to lines or verses, topic or theme, mood, or otherwise.

(Free Verse example by one of my graduate students: her last name is coincidental … not a relative.)

COLOURS OF LOVE

“What do you think
when you look at me,”
you ask?

All I can do is stare,
teary-eyed,
speechless,
trying desperately
to find adequate words
in describing
such a beautiful life-form
standing before me.

“I see colors of love,
as I have never
seen them before,”
I finally say.

“I see tangerine hues …
fiery reds of new dawns;
saffron of rising moons
against star-sparkled
midnight blue
of nighttime skies.

I see golden suns,
silver glints dancing
in softly beckoning eyes
of …
fervent lovers.

I see rainbows,

flowers – I see, colors
laid at my feet
when kismet
first painted

You ~
into my lonely
black ’n white world.”

Dorina Jolene Jenkins
22 Nov 2012

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We’ve covered a considerable bit, some of which you may already know and are merely brushing-up, while others are altogether new in the finer details of the Free Verse form.

Questions or comments? Make them here so we can all share, or if necessary, message me anytime and I’ll get back with you asap.

Lastly, write your own Free Verse poem from what you’ve learned so far. It can be about anything you conceive of. We can share them together next session and sort out anything that might be amiss … above all, “Enjoy!”

We’ll see ya after tomorrow’s lesson … ’til then, “Keep Freeversing!” 

~———————————•§•———————————~

Thank you sincerely, Benjamin, for the honor of receiving your appreciated approval, praise, inspiring words in review, and expressed enjoyment of this original American Sestets piece.

I like “gauzy”, too! ⁓ Richard🖌

Many thank yous, Damian 👌

It’s always a joy to have you select one of my humble pieces toshare, and to receive your gracious praise.

“Happy Holidays 🎀 Syr!” ⁓ Richard🖌

Many thanks, Thomas👍 (my brother’s name)

It’s always inspiring to receive your accolades.

Happy Holidays! ⁓ Richard🖌

It’s an honored joy, Gus 🌿

To receive such gracious words from a fellow poet who takes keen interest in poetic format.
From some years past, I am familiar with the Hickeldy Pickeldy Dutch form, and (unlike you) have composed but a few, one of which I’ll post for your entertainment.

I thank you most sincerely and appreciatively for your interest in my original form “American Sestets” … and, would be honored if you were to compose one of your own … we’ll call it a fair exchange, me with your Hickeldy Pickeldy, you with my American Sestets. 😃

As Bob Dylan sang, too, in his “Tangled Up With Blue ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwSZvHqf9qM ), “I’m keepin’ on keepin’ on”.
Kind regards, in-return, M’New Friend! ⁓ Richard🖌

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Adagio. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Peter. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Usually in a minor key for sure. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Fia. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Appreciate you, cuz.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Thomas. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Light. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I think it works either way myself. I must say I always enjoy your commentary and opinions, you’re pretty much on point with where I was going with this one. There are always pieces of me in my writes my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Willow. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I don’t know that I believe in the norm either, I agree it’s like living up to the standard of others, funny thing is that they can’t live up to it themselves. But hypocrites love to snipe at others. So glad I rolled with it as well. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Amethyste. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, Thomas. So glad you connected with the write my friend. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thanks so much for reading and your kind words, John. So glad you connected with the write my friend. I’ve learned over time that the honest approach can be the most open to be heard. Thank you so much for your support. Appreciate you.

Damian

Thank you sincerely, Sam 🌾

It’s a pleasure to compose and share with those who appreciate my earnest efforts.
Your praise and inspiringly gracious comments mean so very much to an olde bard’s hopes.

Many blessings, Syr! ⁓ Richard🖌

Thank you Lady Fia 🌺🐝

Your expressed warmth, appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of my humble efforts make sharing with you feel so very worthwhile and rewarding.

You’re a most wonderful reviewer … thank you again, Fia ⁓ Richard🖌

With sincere thanks, Dru 🍷
Your gracious comments are truly inspiring.

Creating these Concrete pieces can be a challenge, but enjoyable and quite satisfying in the end … especially, when they turn out so nicely formed.

You should try one! ⁓ Richard🖌

Many thanks, Damian 👍

I am most grateful for your words expressing such positively sincere sentiments and inspiring praise of my skills and desires to pass along the boundless artistic wonderment of our art.

It’s truly a pleasure sharing my enjoyable efforts with you, Syr.
Thank you again! ⁓ Richard🖌

Hello, Dear Sonnet 🎶

Sitting here taking in the graciously brilliant soul breaths of your each living word, I could not help but travel back into our many years and unforgettable memories, to those moments we first met and began sharing poetry on so many different writing sites … and, all that has transpired between us that made an everlasting friendship and bond ⁓ like no other.

How I so deeply cherish recounting every nuance life took us through together, until (as it often does), when moment-by-moment we drifted, not really apart, yet, off into further callings and kismets that take hearts, souls, and minds down many paths t’ward eventual completion of existence off this mortal realm to we are eventually drawn. Ohhh, but how exciting our wondrous travails and blessings have been ⁓ together and apart.

Tho’, as I read through and felt your enthrallingly glowing, intelligently gentle, caring, appreciative, and graciously inspiring words in review for this uniquely rendered poem, I realized how bonded we truly were, are, and (hopefully) shall always be, through eternity. Differently? Yes! You as YOU, I as I can only be … yet, bonded by something, almost spiritual, respectful, and intrinsically blessed … beyond the limitation of words.

I’ve often marvelled at the insights you so vividly express about me and my poetry. It’s, almost, as if the moment I exhaled you inhaled, absorbing the sheer wispy essence of my poetic soul … one of the beautiful aspects of your being I’ve always marvelled at, adored, and loved.

Hmmm? Seems I’ve been needing to share with someone I know will understand, eh?
Ever-so thankfully, I bow to thee, Lady Ghounwah ⁓ Richard🖌