Poetry Is Pretentious

Poems that are free verse means a type of poetry that does not follow a specific meter, rhyme scheme, or other formal structure. Instead, it allows poets to experiment with language and expression in unique and creative ways. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at seven short examples of free verse poetry that showcase the form’s unique qualities and power.

Free Verse Poem Examples

In this article, we feature examples from the works of Ezra Pound, H.D., Charles Bukowski, and more.

“In a Station of the Metro”

BY EZRA POUND

The apparition of these faces in the crowd;
Petals on a wet, black bough.

“In a Station of the Metro” is a short and powerful example of free verse poetry by Ezra Pound. It is also a great example of verbless poetry, a technique that avoids the use of verbs in its construction. The poem creates a vivid and haunting image of faces in a crowded subway station, likening them to the delicate petals of a flower. The poem’s lack of structure and rhyme allows Pound to focus on the imagery and emotion of the piece.

“The Garden”

BY H.D.

I

You are clear
O rose, cut in rock,
hard as the descent of hail.

I could scrape the colour
from the petals
like spilt dye from a rock.

If I could break you
I could break a tree.

If I could stir
I could break a tree—
I could break you.

II

O wind, rend open the heat,
cut apart the heat,
rend it to tatters.

Fruit cannot drop
through this thick air—
fruit cannot fall into heat
that presses up and blunts
the points of pears
and rounds the grapes.

Cut the heat—
plough through it,
turning it on either side
of your path.

H.D.’s “The Garden” is a short but impactful example of free verse poetry. The poem uses simple yet rich language to convey a sense of pain and loss, with the image of a rose cut into rock as a metaphor for the narrator’s own emotional state. The poem’s free verse structure allows for a sense of raw emotion and vulnerability.

“I Met a Genius”

BY CHARLES BUKOWSKI

I met a genius on the train
today
about 6 years old,
he sat beside me
and as the train
ran down along the coast
we came to the ocean
and then he looked at me
and said,
it’s not pretty.

it was the first time I’d
realized
that.

Charles Bukowski’s “I Met a Genius” is a powerful and evocative free verse poem. The poem uses simple observation and simple language to highlight the idea being conveyed. The impact of the observation is driven home by the familiar and personal tone of Bukowski’s writing. The lack of formal meter and rhyme let the novelty of the observation stand tall.

“Lessons in Language and Giving Yourself a Break”

BY DILLY DALLY

So, my cat Samson
Is also called
“Handsome Pantsome”
As for some reason
I label all his moods
And foibles
With pants (AKA trousers)

Some days
he is Samson Cranky Pantsome
When things don’t go his way
And we think no less of him

Some days
he is Samson Fancy Pantsome
As he chooses to balance
On top of the scratching post
With a look that suggests
Applause is required
He is applauded and adored

At the vets he’ll roll around
For tummy strokes
Samson Charming Pantsome
Such a clever boy!

Sometimes, he’ll shovel
in all of the cat food
Whilst Keira runs off with one biscuit
at a time
Keira Daisy Daydream
Samson Naughty Pantsome
What a character

What’s this Samson?
You’ve sneezed cat snot into my face?
Samson Cutesy Pantsome
You must have been very happy
Blowing your contented snot bubbles
What a sweet boy…

No matter what pants you wear
At the heart of it
You are amazing
“Best cat in the World”
(Apologies Keira, you too – little lighter than air fluffball cutey)

With all this known
Why do singular actions
Perceived and labelled
Make us feel worthless?
Give the overthinking a rest
You are more than today’s pants (trousers!)

Dilly Dally’s “Lessons in Language and Giving Yourself a Break” is a beautiful and personal example of free verse at its finest. The subject matter of the poem is specific to the author, but the freedom of the writing allows the poet to convey the emotion in such a universal way. Additionally, the language employed throughout “fluffball cutey, Samson Naughty Pantsome” (words that almost certainly aren’t common in formal poetry) creates an honest and engaging feel. It’s a poem where the free verse allows for enigmatic and engaging self-expression. The reader can’t help but smile.

“Song of Myself”

BY WALT WHITMAN

I celebrate myself, and sing myself,
And what I assume you shall assume,
For every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

Read the full poem here

Walt Whitman‘s “Song of Myself” is a classic example of free verse poetry. The poem celebrates the speaker’s own identity and existence, as well as the interconnectedness of all things. The poem’s lack of structure and rhyme allows for a sense of expansiveness and grandeur.

“Fog”

BY CARL SANDBURG

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

Carl Sandburg’s “Fog” is a short and sweet free verse poem that uses simple language and imagery to convey a sense of mystery and beauty. The image of fog moving “on little cat feet” creates a sense of whimsy and magic, while the lack of structure allows for a sense of natural flow and movement.

“This is Just to Say”

BY WILLIAM CARLOS WILLIAMS

I have eaten
the plums
that were in
the icebox

and which
you were probably
saving
for breakfast

Forgive me
they were delicious
so sweet
and so cold

William Carlos Williams‘ imagistic poem (and my personal favorite!) “This is Just to Say” is a concise free verse poem that creates a striking and specific image of a time, place, and experience. The unnamed characters come alive, not by naming them, but by expressing their simple intentions. The free form of this poem allows Williams to express only the exact necessary details of his idea.