To Rhyme or Not to Rhyme, That Is the Question
It's got to have rhyme – or does it?
I started publishing poems on Vocal about a year ago. I have never really been much of a poet, and to this day, I do not consider myself anywhere near good.
In that time, I have published just over 250 poems. Some are short haiku poems. Of the rest, only two or three are free verse. I have always believed that poetry must have rhyme!
Perhaps it is because, when I was younger, playing in a band at university, I wrote many original songs. They all rhymed, and I used to wrestle with the words to ensure they rhymed.
Rhyme vs. free verse
In poetry, rhyming means “the repetition of syllables, usually at the end of a line.” These end rhymes form patterns known as rhyme schemes. A rhyme scheme is made up of the pattern of end rhymes that forms a stanza (a paragraph or verse in poetic terms).
There are countless rhyming schemes. They depend on what is rhyming, how many lines there are, and which of those lines are going to rhyme. It can get very complicated, and I am not the one to go into all the theory. There are books written about it.
Free verse poetry has no regular rhyme, meter, or musical structure. In the crudest sense, it is an “emotional dump of words” by the author. I am not being cynical or critical of free verse poetry. I just like the bounce and motivation that rhyming poetry provides. Good rhyme almost makes the words dance as they move through the subject matter.
Historically, rhyming poetry helped people remember the content or subject matter. Before the advent of printing presses, tales and events were relayed in rhyming poems.
Rhyming often gets a bad name. I've observed that in the Poet Vocal community, many lean toward free verse rather than rhyming poetry. I will return to this later.
Some feel that rhyming poetry is juvenile, and it can be like reading a children’s book. It can’t be too bad. Even Shakespeare used rhyming in his poetry. Arguably, the lasting power of his words might have diminished without rhyme.
Supporters of free verse poetry argue that it allows them to experiment with line breaks, imagery, and language. This leads to a unique and personal expression of their artistic vision. Free verse is flexible. It lets poets experiment more since they don't need to rhyme words. It can also include natural language, which is how we typically communicate with others. This is often more relatable than rhyming poetry.
Many new poets default to free verse because it feels easier. Without guidelines, poetry can become a disorganised mix of jumbled thoughts. Writing good free verse is tough. It requires skill to build rhythm, sound, and form without adhering to traditional rules.
The matter at hand
I thought the Poet Community favoured free verse poems.
A quick look at the last twenty top stories (poems) in the Poet community shows that 65% are free verse and 35% are rhyming. The winner of the last competition for the Poet community was also a rhyming poem. There may be some bias, but it is not as severe as I had presumed.
Some of the creators I follow have mastered rhyming. Their poems flow smoothly, with an ebb and flow that reflects their sentiment. For example,
- Kelli Sheckler-Amsden (https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/kelli-sheckler-amsden%3C/a%3E%29
- Mike Singleton (https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/mike-singleton-mikeydred%29%3C/a%3E, the master of Villanelle)
- Sara Wilson (https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/sara-wilson-bv5zbx0nq8%3C/a%3E%29
Others, like Andrea Corwin https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/andrea-corwin%3C/a%3E%29 and Caitlin Charlton (https://shopping-feedback.today/authors/caitlin-charlton-gv6f0u8f%3C/a%3E%29, write deep and meaningful free verse.
(Sorry to the great poets I did not mention. I just have not had the chance to follow you yet.)
About the Creator
Calvin London
I write fiction, non-fiction and poetry about all things weird and wonderful, past and present. Life is full of different things to spark your imagination. All you have to do is embrace it - join me on my journey.
Reader insights
Outstanding
Excellent work. Looking forward to reading more!
Top insights
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Easy to read and follow
Well-structured & engaging content
Excellent storytelling
Original narrative & well developed characters
Expert insights and opinions
Arguments were carefully researched and presented
Eye opening
Niche topic & fresh perspectives
Heartfelt and relatable
The story invoked strong personal emotions
Masterful proofreading
Zero grammar & spelling mistakes
On-point and relevant
Writing reflected the title & theme
Keep reading
More stories from Calvin London and writers in Writers and other communities.
Reframing English Words
Reframing is a popular psychological tool. It helps people see a situation, thought, or problem in a new way. The goal is to shift your thinking. Instead of focusing on the negative, try to see it in a more positive or realistic way.
By Calvin Londonabout a month ago in Writers
How Himalayan Salt Wall Panels Are Becoming the Signature Luxury Element in Modern Homes
Contemporary interior design is moving into a combination of natural beauty, wellness, and luxury, and the Himalayan salt wall panels of the interior are some of the most appealing materials that are making that transition. Initially recognized as wellness rooms and spas, these radiant mineral surfaces are currently a household characteristic in luxurious houses, whether in minimalist apartments in New York or in modern villas in Dubai. Their coziness, organic nature, and wellness attributes have made them an architectural feature everyone wants to incorporate in their homes; having more than merely a decor, they want to experience a life.
By Mubarik Ahmad 4 days ago in Writers
The Ritual of Winter Challenge Winners
Welcome to the Winners Announcement for The Ritual of Winter challenge. This prompt focused on winter rituals and the meaning that settles into them over time. The top pieces stay grounded in ordinary acts and repeated routines, letting winter shape the work through pace, attention, and restraint.
By Vocal Curation Team2 days ago in Resources
Comments (8)
The historical context you provide is great. I didn’t realize rhyme had such a mnemonic function makes me appreciate the craft even more.
Loved the observations and that you have included some of my favorite poets from Vocal :)
Awe what a lovely piece and the mention made me fill up. I am proud to be your friend 🙏💙🙏
Some excellent points. I believe any set of thoughts can be considered poetry, though people have told me they don't rate my work because it rhymes. Thank you for the shout out
Great run down on poetry, Calvin! I like how you put the stats in. I love doing haikus - in the original fashion of nature; I do ones that Vocal has in challenges that do not follow the original intent about nature. Thanks for mentioning me. I do some rhyming poems when the mood strikes and it flows. I have found that for me, free verse and haiku are what sings in my writing. ❤️ I will try some other forms of poetry when my mind clears a bit more. 🤗🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 I have loved poems by you!
Also, thank you for mentioning me here. 🥹🥹
I love this article so much! I've been rhyming since I was a child so for me, it comes naturally. I also homeschool so I make up rhyming songs for my kids to remember math facts etc. I have said before I read a lot of Dr Seuss as a kid and it stuck lol. But I enjoy free verse as well. I think there is more than enough room for us all and plenty of content to read. Rhyming or otherwise. Love this piece!
I think rhyming is not very favoured on Vocal because most AI-Generated poems are rhyming ones. When asked to write a poem, AI always gives a rhyming one. So even me, whenever I see a rhyming poems, I tend to wonder if the person used AI. I know it's not fair but I feel AI brought a bad reputation for rhyming poems