Free verse is great,
when used by great poets,
but it seems that it has more recently become
a way for amateur poets
to be lazy.

To take opinions,
expressed in prose
and convince the world its poetry.
What is the beauty of poetry if not
in seeing how the poet commands
the language?

To write a sonnet,
To write a limerick,
To use iambic pentameter,
The poet must form the language
to fit the structure,
accomplish the meter.

The poet has to find
creative ways of expressing
a thought that fits within the structure.
Free verse does 'free the poet' to express ideas.

There is a lot of great
free verse poetry.
Because it allows
for an arrangement of ideas
without a strict form.

Sadly it also
frees the poet to be,
Well, un-poetic.
Is it a poem, really,
with not a single simile,
no metaphore, hyperbole,
no alliteration, no assoonance,
no meter, no rhyme?

If your not using
any poetic devices at all,
is this really poetry?
Or just prose in disguise?

The hate that I have
I will not let go
Though its wrong,
And a prejudice.

I hate all the people
Who've hurt their own child
Left them
Abandoned and hurting.

I hate all the haters
Who tell others the way
They are supposed
To think and behave.

I hate all the people
Breaking hearts of so many.
Selfish
In bids for importance.

I hate all the haters
Who blame always the others
For their broke
feelings and lives.

I hate the Author,
I hate the Poet,
I hate the
Writers of songs.

They make me think,
That aweful bunch,
That my hate may be
Paradox.

I know only this,
With you died my bliss.
Why had you to go,
When I loved you so?

What in my love
Was there not enough of
For you not to see
You were needed by me?

Just a selfish act
Without thought of impact,
Of how it would destroy
Me, your little boy?

I want you back
From your self-attack,
From your self-hate.
Come out of that crate!

I won't let them bury you
Or away let them to carry you
I refuse to desert
My daddy to dirt.

Why did you flee
In a way which would be
Such forever unending a leave
Bequeathing me only to grieve?

Why did you hate me
Leave me, forsake me?
I loved you with all that I had,
Daddy forgive me if I made you mad.

Come back poppa, please
I'm here on my knees
Begging, please don't be gone;
Tell me this is just some con.

I Loved You! I Love You!
I Hate that I Love You!
For now love is only deep pain
From love now there's nothing to gain.

-From the Author-

And hopefully this
Explains why I dis,
And will have no pity
For a 'poetic' suicide ditty.

Just such selfish gusts
From self-absorbed egotists
Playing as the word is a toy
That wrecked the heart of this boy.

She's there for comfort
When life is too much..
He's there at your back
When fight it you must.

Oh brother, oh sister
Oh cousin, oh dear
Oh Mother, oh father
Let's drink, we're all here!

Sisters or brothers
Spouse, cousins and friends,
With all you call family
Always make amends.

Oh brother, oh sister
Oh cousin, oh dear
Oh Mother, oh father
I'm glad we're all here!

Mother and father
Wife, husband and child
They keep your heart open
And your soul beguiled.

Oh brother, oh sister
Oh cousin, oh dear
Oh mother, oh father
Let's laugh, we're all here!

For its when you need them
They'll always be there
Love from your family
No Love can compare.

Oh brother, oh sister
Oh cousin, oh dear
Oh mother, oh father
Let's sing, we're all here!

Guy who's like me
She says would be
The perfect man for her

One who writes sonnets
Love writ large upon it
She says she would treasure and keep

Courageous but kind
A deep thoughtful mind
She claims that she seeks for a mate

Romantic and loving
Respectful not shoving
She lists as her prerequisites

Found me last week
Took a walk on the beach
And sent me home packing today.

She says that I was
Too 'gushy' because
A courageous romantic is weak.

Cannot believe that it came from your lips
When we have survived so many hardships
Weathered together such crazy life storms
Now comes in anger, that word that deforms.

In heated battles, we've cussed all we could
Every word used that we knew never should
But that word, that word, you screamed it at me -
The one whose lover till death you would be?

Burnt skin by hot coals in fires on dunes -
Nothing compared to the burn of these wounds.
Wish you had rather thrown at me a dish
Or used a gun to say "I will end this!"

Did you really? Is that what you said, love?
Did you scream that while the knife you did shove?
How could you? How would you? Yeah, perfect I'm not.
Feeling the slice, seeing drip the red blots.

Sobbing and puking as my ribs you part
To reach in my chest and tear out my heart.
Ten years of marriage, together fifteen,
Fights, we've had many, but this - what a scene!

You hate me? You HATE me? Oh sh*t! It's true.
Without you I won't know how to make do.
Oh dearest light of my life what's this pain?
Your love the rare thing I could count as gain.

That word we had sworn we never would use;
You used as the sword my soul to abuse.
It is a cut that you cannot undue.
I love you! I LOVE you! Please know that's true.

Perhaps now you do know my love is true,
Holding my heart in your hands, as you do?
****** mess made ripping it from my chest;
Sending me off to an untimely rest.

Now dead, I can see. I know it's not hate.
My pooled blood now given your tears as playmate
Long crimson pink lines now your face striate
Soon you will join me, in death I await.

Small hands holding tight
To strings of laughter
On ends of floating
Bubbles of wonder

Sand filled toes in shoes
On quick feet, dancing
Through my greatest dreams
Of who she will be

Soft kisses from lips
Formed from my own heart
Melting into a
Stream to her future.

Sweet songs of her love
Belted with fervor
From within the small
Light flowered sun-dress

Mischiv'us smiles with
Doll filled hands playing
Games to fill the day
With her glow of joy

Bright eyes signaling
A future brilliant
As the twinkle of
the stars they've stolen

Trusting complete love
Holding tight to life
As it floats away
On bubbles of wonder