An Original Example of A "Where I'm From" Poem
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Argument
by Brynn Siles
A free verse poem is similar to prose becase the poems often lacking rhyme. However, they often have a rhytmic meter similar to common speech patterns, and use poetic license with lack of puncuation or lack of correct capulalization. A free verse poem can have an unlimited number of lines and syllables in each stanza, as well as a virtually unlimited number of stanzas. Free verse poems often contain symbolism and figurative langauge profusely, which sets it apart from prose.
Citation:
"Poetry through the Ages." Examples of Free Verse : Poetry through the Ages.
Spicynodes Inc., 2008. Web. 01 Nov. 2014.
The Free Verse Poem
A Published Example of A Free Verse Poem
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
After the Sea-Ship
Walt Whitman
After the Sea-Ship—after the whistling winds;
After the white-gray sails, taut to their spars and ropes,
Below, a myriad, myriad waves, hastening, lifting up their necks,
Tending in ceaseless flow toward the track of the ship:
Waves of the ocean, bubbling and gurgling, blithely prying,
Waves, undulating waves—liquid, uneven, emulous waves,
Toward that whirling current, laughing and buoyant, with curves,
Where the great Vessel, sailing and tacking, displaced the surface;
Larger and smaller waves, in the spread of the ocean, yearnfully flowing;
The wake of the Sea-Ship, after she passes—flashing and frolicsome, under the sun,
A motley procession, with many a fleck of foam, and many fragments,
Following the stately and rapid Ship—in the wake following
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Citation:
"Poetry through the Ages." Examples of Free Verse : Poetry through the Ages.
Spicynodes Inc., 2008. Web. 01 Nov. 2014.
And you realize
It wasn’t worth it
But there are no takebacks
And you shut your eyes tight
As a single, burning
Tear
Works its way out
And you realize
That you never should have started the war
You never meant to
So why did you?
And you realize
That the victory itself
Is an arrow
Flying, flying your way
You take one last
Breath
With quivering hands
You load your last arrow
You’ve saved your most painful one
For last
And you watch
You watch as it saors through the air
You watch as pain surges through your opponent
You watch as they wilt, wilt
Gone
But you find your actions
Have backfired
There is no forgiveness
And the arrows start to come faster
Stinging harder, harder
Every time
And the bitter tears fall
A wall of water
That cannot protect you
It only blinds you
From the next arrow
You cannot surrender
What you beleive cannot be
Given up
Suddenly you feel
Understanding
Like you don’t want to fight
Any more
You try to listen
Withhold your last arrow
You hope mabe it will help end
A war that never needed to happen
A war that will never truly be over
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The war is begun
You watch as the arrow soars
You watch as the opponent winces
The arrow must have stung
Badly
But it’s not enough to stop
A shot from the other side
Revenge, retaliation
Back and forth you shoot
Arrows poke the mind, the heart
The soul
You’re bubbled up with anger
Soon, soon
You will burst
But who will be first
To fire an arrow?
The apponent load their cannon
But hesitates
Leaving the decision to you
You don’t have to shoot
You could choose to prevent the war
Your conscience tells you no
But you don’t listen
You fire
It started as an opinion
And sprialed, spiraled upward
Into a war
Your side is strong
For sure
Loaded with cannons and arrows and knifes
No way to escape their pain
No sheild strong anough to fend the blow
Your spirit sours
But quickly drops
When you realize that the other side
Has cannons too
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/373498_6f680daa90a14491a486aad2b1117aec.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_579,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/373498_6f680daa90a14491a486aad2b1117aec.jpg)
Poetic Perfection
Created by: Brynn Siles
Teacher: Klaudia Neufeld
Class: 7GT English
Date: 23 November , 2014
School: Hulstrom K-8 School