The Poet Of Our Modern Time

Many modern poets won't tolerate rhyme. I don't think that's wise. Rhyme and not-rhyme are needed -- to balance the sound of poetry. And rhyme is often the key to reciting a poem by memory.

The poet of our modern time

A fighter -- certainly --

His fierce opponent: simple rhyme -- 

To him -- dread enemy.

He has no foe who's any worse -- 

Come rhyme -- he must rewrite -- 

Lest someone in the universe  

His poem might recite. 

Reviews

[jacob erin-cilberto]

oh yes, i love this...i am so not a rhyme fan, always preferred free verse which does not feel forced.

nice to meet a fellow 62 year old New Yorker...and teacher.

i am all three.

i do like the way you used the rhyme in this one..so exceptions to the rule...

[Firestone Feinberg]

Thank you, Jacob, for making an exception for this poem. I credit my trying-to-be-not-forced rhyming to my hero and teacher, Emily Dickinson. Please understand that I love free-verse when done well, and so too with rhyme. Whatever works best works best. I think that at this point in time we are wise to write both with and without rhyme, what? And I am thrilled that our vital statistics match! Surely this is destiny :) --David

[jacob erin-cilberto]

she is my absolute favorite poet....the best ever.

[Firestone Feinberg]

there's no one like her -- what a soul, what a mind, what a heart -- nobody even comes close... that's four things we have in common! --David

[char]

Hunh...I use rhyme. It's not my enemy. We practically hold hands. So I guess the modern poet is my enemy. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." This is good work. I especially love the font. Blue, so easy on the eyes....

[Firestone Feinberg]

Anna you are incredible. You would be so even if you weren't so young; but inasmuch as you are so young, you are something else. I am glad you like this poem. I use rhyme too -- and I use it obviously -- but there's a difference in how one uses rhyme. It is difficult and it is tricky to make a rhyming poem sound fresh and original -- and not forced. I learned from Emily Dickinson as much as I know. Not that I can say her name in the same breath as mine. I worship her. I'm glad the blue font was appealing to you -- it is to me too! --David

[char]

Wait. "I would be so even if I weren't so young"? I do not understand this.

[Firestone Feinberg]

You would be an amazing person even if you were older. Do you understand?

[char]

Yes, sir, I do understand now. This is what happened since reading your meta-poems; I'm trying hard to comprehend simple speech. And Emily is a lovely poet. My favorite poem by her is I Heard A Fly Buzz.

[Firestone Feinberg]

yes -- that happens to me too after i've been in my meta-language for a while -- i can't think 'straight' for a while

[fireblossom]

Well said. Well written. A very good poem.

[Firestone Feinberg]

Thanks so much. glad you like it. have a good one. --david

[Frieda P]

I adore this, I struggle with rhyme, I'm not sure how people come away with rhyming poetry that is so beautiful to be honest. I love either, as long as they're got soul, this one does....nicely pen'd.

[Firestone Feinberg]

So nice of you to write to me. Thank you! I know exactly what you mean -- it's not simple thing to make rhyme sound even and smooth and not forced. If I write something that's too forced, I scrap it. Sometimes a poem needs no rhyme -- but the snobs of poetry should watch their intellectual bias -- it's tired, if you dig. Thanks again! --David

[Frieda P]

My pleasure, I could care less about the snobs, I know what I like, whether it not fit their exacting measures or not, I'm not going to change. Kudos sir David.

[Holly Mason]

what a strong write for you to share
rhyme can be a foe...it is easy for me but I really am starting to believe that I am going to be the very first soccer mom rapper!oh and I can dance like no one on earth that is the only thing I will ever pat my own back about-ever-we gotta come up with my soccer mom rapper name-goal diddy momma-like that as much as I like this write
thank you for sharing*)

[JM Russell]

Every poets dream is to have someone recite their work and I`m pretty sure yours will be. Good stuff.

[Firestone Feinberg]

How big do you want to make my ego? Soon I'll be so snooty that I won't even talk to myself! Thak you, JM! --David

[JM Russell]

Honesty vs the ego. I`ll take my chances. Keep writing I`ll take to you.

[Firestone Feinberg]

Like my wife says: be careful what you wish for :) --D

[JM Russell]

Wives are like that. I get the other side "are you on that computer again--where's dinner" oops

[John]

I think you're spot on about the link between rhyme and memorisation. End rhyme and a definite rhythmic pattern help us to commit a poem to memory.

Satiric and witty and a good example of the kind of poem I'd want to be able to recite.

[Firestone Feinberg]

Thank you John. I have to admit that sometimes rhyme is forced, but in the hands of one such as Emily Dickinson (my hero and teacher) rhyme becomes glorious. Certainly it's the rhyme that makes Nursery Rhymes stick in our minds (no rhyme intended!). Thanks for your wisdom and your strong and steady support. --David

[justjenn_2u]

Yes, we fight the scheme of rhyme but it comes to us because we are born naturals. We are artists, fighters. Words pack a punch and so does this poem.

[Firestone Feinberg]

What a special review! I treasure your insight and your praise of the poem. Thank you for the boost! How kind of you! --David

[justjenn_2u]

Always