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An Original Example of A "Where I'm From" Poem

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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

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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

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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

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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

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