08-05-2012, 08:44 AM
I've read a few comments around the traps lately, both here and on other sites (admittedly, mostly on other sites) that refer to meter as "rigid" and rhyme as "restrictive" or other similar terms.
This irritates me as I've never found either to be true, and the way rhyme and meter are spoken about by those who don't use them is quite derogatory. The term "old fashioned" gets thrown around a fair bit as well.
Now, I've never heard the bass line or drum beat of a rock song referred to as "rigid". Meter is no different. It is the rhythm, the beat, the bones to hang your fleshy words on. It keeps time and makes sure everything stays in its place.
As for rhyme being "restrictive" or "limiting" -- it's as limited as your imagination. If you can't think outside the box, then you're stuck no matter what form or technique you choose.
Using form, meter, rhyme or any other structural technique requires practise, discipline and imagination. Nobody just picks up a pen and writes a perfect piece of formal poetry -- but then, anyone who thinks they can just pick up a pen and write a perfect piece of free verse is kidding him/herself as well.
It's. All. Poetry.
/end rant
This irritates me as I've never found either to be true, and the way rhyme and meter are spoken about by those who don't use them is quite derogatory. The term "old fashioned" gets thrown around a fair bit as well.
Now, I've never heard the bass line or drum beat of a rock song referred to as "rigid". Meter is no different. It is the rhythm, the beat, the bones to hang your fleshy words on. It keeps time and makes sure everything stays in its place.
As for rhyme being "restrictive" or "limiting" -- it's as limited as your imagination. If you can't think outside the box, then you're stuck no matter what form or technique you choose.
Using form, meter, rhyme or any other structural technique requires practise, discipline and imagination. Nobody just picks up a pen and writes a perfect piece of formal poetry -- but then, anyone who thinks they can just pick up a pen and write a perfect piece of free verse is kidding him/herself as well.
It's. All. Poetry.
/end rant
It could be worse