What elements do "free verse" poems need to have to be successful?

Question: What elements do "free verse" poems need to have to be successful!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I agree with everyone who has excellent opinions, and I'll disagree with all those who have not-so-good opinions, which in my opinion, would be simply medium opinions and today I'm not exactly in a medium mood, although I would enjoy some fish sticks - I love fish sticks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

also know as vers libre it has no convention, no rules, just poetic elements, although most good free verse as in the case Ezra Pound or What Whitman, has a sense of cadence, a measure based on breath which changes and feels natural, it isn't repeated consistently, although most respected free verse poets create a pattern of enjaments or end-stopped lines, it is not required!. I used it extensively in one of my poems to create a feel of chaos!. The name of the poem was "The Transformation of Taimat" and slowly as the felled great beast is chained i transformed the poem to a formal style, the effect was startling to me!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Free verse must have foremost a pattern of imagery and meaning, then the rhythm and sound can be developed as the poem is developing whereas formal verse the sound pattern is at the outset!. Formal verse, the meaning fills the rhythmic pattern!. Free verse, the rhythmic pattern fills the meaning!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm just a gal, not an educated poet or writer, but in my opinion free verse poetry still needs to have a rhythm, even if not structured!. There needs to be a good flow to it for enjoyable reading and most importantly an interesting/ important story or message to give it strenth and power!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

Again, not a poetry scholar here, but in my opinion, it has to have PUNCH!.!.!.meat on the bones!.!.!.my favorite free verse poet once told me, open the wound and let the words bleed on the page!. If one can do that!.!.!.their free verse will be successful!.

maWww@QuestionHome@Com