I find it very difficult to write unrhymed poems, this is one I tried.?

Question:When A Poet Dies

There is no existence
No longer a channel for erudition or wit.
Unclaimed, unspoken words
wait for life
closely gathered in the corners of his room.
New phrases and old phrases, revamped,
huddle in wardrobes and drawers,
eager to be marshalled and drilled.
But he's gone.
Bewildered they bunch in nonsensical groups,
so timid, so frightened and sad.
In silence they weep,
and slowly some sink
to join the dust
waiting there.
Others cling to the kettle, the cooker, the fridge.
A thin patina of waste.
There is no-one
to push, cajole or coerse.
To shape and mould
to create
an everlasting verse.

(see I ended up rhyming, I couldn't help myself)
If anyone would like to alter this poem for the better please do so.

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: When A Poet Dies

There is no existence
No longer a channel for erudition or wit.
Unclaimed, unspoken words
wait for life
closely gathered in the corners of his room.
New phrases and old phrases, revamped,
huddle in wardrobes and drawers,
eager to be marshalled and drilled.
But he's gone.
Bewildered they bunch in nonsensical groups,
so timid, so frightened and sad.
In silence they weep,
and slowly some sink
to join the dust
waiting there.
Others cling to the kettle, the cooker, the fridge.
A thin patina of waste.
There is no-one
to push, cajole or coerse.
To shape and mould
to create
an everlasting verse.

(see I ended up rhyming, I couldn't help myself)
If anyone would like to alter this poem for the better please do so.

Granny, if you have a natural bent toward rhyming, then write poems that bring YOU pleasure and joy and write the rhymers.
Poetry is too beautiful and unique to waste on opinion that would stifle your flow. Lots of snobs don't care for the rhymers but yet there are LOTS who do and would love to read your poems just as you write them, and probably would buy a book of them as well. So don't change your natural ways for the opinions of a few.

By the way, this piece is lovely. I'm not all caught up in 'exact' way of doing things according to some very educated people, I just know what I like and enjoy and what takes me away with the expression of the words.
This piece is frought with lovely imagery and I truly can see all those words and phrases lost in a dusty old room where a poet once loved and used them. I wouldn't change a damn thing about this.

When A Poet Dies is a great title for this and a great admonition as well to all writers. I am far more concerned with the dying of creative spirits than in being so anal about some mark of perfection. Write on.........

That was quite nice, phrases such as "No longer a channel for erudition or wit," and the longer,
"New phrases and old phrases, revamped,
huddle in wardrobes and drawers,
eager to be marshalled and drilled."
were excellent. Created great images: lonely writer's tools and ideas, unused, left behind.

And your short sentences, "But he's gone." Declaritive statements, used well to punctuate ideas, and themes. Poetry need not rhyme, and you seem to understand that quite well. And the bit at them end worked, didn't leave one wishing the whole thing rhymed, and didn't stand out like the proverbial sore thumb.

There is a difference between an opinion and a poem. This is an opinion. I disagree with you. My life is full of people who push, cajole and coerce.
Why do you think a poem is improved by not rhyming? A bad poem can rhyme or not rhyme. So can a good poem.

i don't really like that poem but it didn't ryme and that is what you wanted

It's great if it rhymes; what matters is that it wasn't "intentional" in the sense of coming up with the rhyme.

The key in free form is readability. This trips off the tongue. A very strong effort. TD