Poetry's Progress Poem by Paul Butters

Iambic pentameters are quite old
As poetry fashions go now, I must say.
Tetrameters are sharper, yes,
But both are old I must confess.

Make any speech, with force, you'll surely find
Iambic rhythms: the power of pulse.
Such things are found in common speech for sure.
And lines of ten syllables must endure.

Poetic structures set in stone are not
My way: variety is key I have
To say. Some use of rhyme is okay too.
So how you write, that's up to you (my friend) .

For I prefer to write free verse,
To steer away from doggerel's curse.
Longer lines are languid, with gravitas.
Short ones clout,
It's as simple as that.


(Retitled and stanza added 24\6\16) .