> When I first started writing them, every single poem had an AABB pattern, then they switched to ABAB, and now they rarely rhyme at all.
>

Oh; you mean, an AABB to ABAB rhyming scheme like,

It's hard to write
a line so tight
This sad outburst
in horrid verse

I hate to write
this kind of verse
It makes me bite
my nails and curse


You know, I don't particularly feel that being forced to write in rhyme detracted from the outcome of that poem.


> (the reason I'm usually anti-rhyme is because I think that when one attempts to make his/her poem rhyme, it forces your concentration away from your emotions and the meaning of the poem, and it makes you think only of meaningless words instead).

I think to humbly disagree there. For me the way to get around obstructive breaks in one's flow and concentration would be, of course, to write in Blank Verse having meter but no 'artificial' rhyming scheme. That would allow me to capture intended emotional tone and atmosphere. Then I go to work on chopping and changing lines, attempting to 'perfect' the work, as it were. Part of that realization might include introducing a rhyming form. Finding the appropriate patterns for imagery and argument can provide new perspective upon one's perceptions, and it often causes me to reorganize my thoughts in novel ways.

However, I don't know how you'd feel about this astonishingly proletarian approach to poetry. It does sound like a great deal of excessive work, does it not? :-)


> I was feeling rather worried yesterday evening whether or not I'd done something right, and so I composed a poem, and it's one of the best I think I have ever written...probably because it's so truthful. The moment was right, I guess...hey, it even rhymed [...] The poem means a lot to me, but I want to know what anyone else might think before I say what it's really about. Anywho, I didn't even mean for it to rhyme, it just came out that way. It's going into the school poetry book...I think. It might be too personal...I don't know yet. I just don't want anyone to rip my writings off. My poems used to be kinda eerie, but now they're MUCH more uplifting and cheerful. ANYWAYS...I've included a link to the poem from yesterday. [...] Anyways...yeah. I expect everyone who reads it to let me know what they think. [...]
>
> ~Den-"the poet who knows it and ain't afraid to show it"Kara

Well, I *like* it. "Help Me to Soar" is solid with familiar rhythms and a warm soul ring of recognition. It reminds me of the type of verse sung in jubilation hymnals. Very comforting! :-)

Wolfspirit