I guess it's the thoughts expressed that count more

Statements that go "Real XXX never/always XXX" tend to be wrong and limiting. So for poetry specifically, obviously there are "real poems" that rhyme and those that don't. My kids wouldn't love reading half as much as they do if not for Shel Silverstein and his magnificent rhymes. Poems without rhymes are fine, too.

As for writing, I like rhymes. But also use imperfect rhymes, because it's more important what I say than rhyming. But usually, when I turn thoughts over in my mind, I can find a way to rhyme or imperfectly rhyme it.

Believe it or not, it was the idea of structured poetry that made me realize I COULD write poetry. I like the rules, including the rhyming rules. Because I tend to go on and on and on--anybody who has PM'd with me knows I'll always use 50 words rather than 3. So the constraints of sonnets and other structured poems are awesome for me.

And in the end, everybody has their own tastes, and can find someone who writes to their tastes, which is why the world is such a glorious place.

For me it depends on the motive and the execution. To say real poetry never rhymes is a ludicrois statement because it rejects everything from Homer to very recent times. Equally i have read some atrocious poetry that was slave to the rhyme. Obviously there are poetry forms with very strict rhythm, haikus, sonnets etc and i would hope no-one would be advocating the end of these. I realise that my next statement may induce the fury of some (the truth often does)but none-the-less ... i think some who argue against rhyme and rhythm do so out of laziness and lack of talent. It is easy to mock what you cannot personally achieve. Rhyme and rhythm require both discipline and careful editing which many are too lazy or arrogant to do. But the only thing that really gets my goat is the stream of consciousness bullshit where someone thinks everything that comes out of their mouth is poetry because the words (though completely out of context) sound lyrical.

It is not the rhyme or the metre that necessarily counts, unless you commit yourself to a specific form at the outset. What makes poetry, is the use of language that taps into the latent genius of the tongue to achieve expressive insight that surpasses that of plodding prose.

Defining Poetry

Using words
. Which neither scan
. . Nor rhyme
. . . ... Is prose.

Using obfuscate,
. Imposing,
. . Posing
. . . words
. . . . ... Is still prose

The wordsmith who
. would seek
. . To blind us otherwise
. . . ... Is a prosaic poet.

Using words which scan
Though they do not rhyme
Is to write with skill
But the work is prose.

The lines may lilt
Upon the ear
But the lines are prose
‘Poetic Prose’.

Lines which scan
With words that rhyme
Make a work of art;
A work sublime.

True poets write
With symmetry
That, indeed,
Is Poetry.

Petter Finne
24.06.2009

Depends on the mood I'm in, and what feel I'm looking for. It all has its place.