Moments linger in silent conservation with the beholder. Poetry and rhymes merge in a dance of expression. Amidst the words, I forsake prose for the enchanting cadence of rhymed verses. Like the eerie fingers of a spectral weaver, my words intertwine. The verses lace tapestries of emotion and meaning. Each strand resembles a wailing phantom haunting the depths of the spirit. However, my poetry extends further than mere rhymes. I might play with other forms.
All Kinds of Poetry and Rhymes
Poetry in all forms and styles, defying categorisation and transcend convention.
Poets
Poetry and rhymes in Poets pay homage to the icons of literary legacy. Within the confines of an Acrostic, I pen words honouring the contributions of poets past. In the hallowed halls where ink-stained parchments crumble, echoes of musings resound.
Photographs
For some of my photographs, I implement poetry and rhymes. I eschew mundane descriptions for rhymed verses. My poems adhere to a decasyllabic pattern and fall under the category of Ekphrasis. Their rhythmic structure follows an AABB scheme. When I set out to describe a photo, I unleash my imagination. I allow whatever thoughts arise when gazing at the image to flow onto the screen. As a result, some poetry and rhymes may sound peculiar or mysterious by design.
Most of my lines follow an iambic Pentameter in the vein of William Shakespeare. Though, he wrote his lines in the rhythmic pattern of ABAB.
Iambic Pentameter dominates as the most frequent poetry form in the English language. This dominance comes from its natural cadence, mirroring everyday speech.
Nature is poetry. An ever-unfolding verse whispered by the wind and painted by the sun’s gentle touch.
Photograph Poems, I Penned
Poetry and rhymes crafted for photographs thus far. I update this list whenever I write one.
My favourites include The End Is A Relief, Abstract Tension, Incident Of Insanity, and Pity The Sadness.
Uncovering Hidden Depths in Metal
My journey into poetry and rhymes commenced in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It marked a time when Hair Metal and Rock reached their peak. Bands like ALICE COOPER, BON JOVI, CINDERELLA, DANGER DANGER, DEF LEPPARD, GUNS N’ ROSES, JUDAS PRIEST, MÖTLEY CRÜE, POISON, SCORPIONS, SKID ROW, STEELHEART, TYKETTO, WARRANT, WILDSIDE, WINGER, and many more dominated the music scene.
While the music mesmerised me, the lyrics got my attention. Many song lyrics revolved around parties, romance, or having a good time. These topics did not hold my fascination. My interest ignited as song lyrics resonated with me on a deeper level. Some groups wrote meaningful poetry and rhymes.
A lasting impact on me left the band SKID ROW. Their tune ’18 And Life’ remains one of my all-time favourites. This mighty track has to do with a boy. His father expels him from his home. He finds himself on the unforgiving streets with his companion. Their lives spiral into a cycle of alcohol, mischief, and recklessness. In the end, a catastrophe occurs when he shoots his friend, leading to a life sentence. A moving narrative lending its name to the song, ’18 And Life’.
The writing consists of a Quatrain and a formal verse structure. And the rhyme scheme holds AABB. Storytelling and poetic craftsmanship in ’18 And Life’ impress.
Another great song, ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ by WARRANT, portrays a story of a boy and his father going fishing in the bayou. They experience a frightful occurrence on their trip. Two individuals dispose of two bodies in the water. None other than the sheriff and the deputy.
‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ has the same frame as ’18 And Life’.
A Shift in Musical Tastes
In the mid-1990s, the era of Hair Metal came to a close. My musical preferences took a darker and more aggressive turn. I immersed myself in bands like CRADLE OF FILTH, DARK FUNERAL, DIMMU BORGIR, EMPEROR, IMMORTAL, KAMPFAR, LIMBONIC ART, MAYHEM, SATYRICON, and others of a similar ilk.
The Poe-etic Transition
Following my musical phase, I wandered into the eerie world of Edgar Allan Poe. His dark and enchanting poetry and rhymes played a melodic tune within my inner self. His poems go way further than any song lyric.
“They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night.”
Edgar Allan Poe
Poe’s most well-known work remains ‘The Raven‘. He chose the rhythmic pattern and metrical feet with much thought. The poem has a rhyme scheme of ABCBB with many ‘or’ words. It weaves words like ‘lore’, ‘door’, ‘more’, ‘floor’, ‘Lenore’, ‘evermore’, ‘before’, ‘implore’, and countless others.
AI art by Midjourney.
I wrote an Acrostic about Edgar Allan Poe.
Master of the Macabre
Every content of his tales grows eerie,
Dwelling in darkness and never cheery.
Ghastly realms his unsettled mind would trace,
Awe-inspiring, his haunting and pale grace,
Raven’s croaking from a forsaken place.
A bleak heart within a troubled, sad soul,
Lonely spirit, where his thoughts used to stroll,
Lost in realms as darkened and black as coal.
Annabel Lee and Lenore’s dire lament,
Nevermore shall his profound words relent.
Poe’s legacy stands immortal and grand,
Ominous narratives at his command,
Eternal maestro of the morbid land.
Poetry and Rhymes in Contemporary Versification
Contemporary poetry often embraces free verse. Poetry and rhymes, though, have faded from the favoured gaze of many. Some tutors argue it belongs to the past. They cite instances where it can feel forced and nonsensical. In its worst forms, rhymed poetry might even resemble Yoda’s speech. It makes it unappealing to readers. Yet, well-crafted poetry and rhymes can resonate when the lines flow. And maintain a rhythmic quality.
The use of archaic language and clichés serves as another scarlet warning. Indeed, we no longer speak as we did four hundred years ago. But why not add old words to a poem to give it a distinct aura?
What marks a cliché? Does it include well-known phrases like ‘the ball is in the court’, ‘actions speak louder than words’, or ‘bite the bullet’? Or does it encompass the more obscure ones like ‘break a leg’, ‘don’t count your chickens before they hatch’, or ‘don’t put all your eggs in one basket’?
And what about expressions like ‘tried but true’, ‘warning sign’, or ‘red flag’? Truth stands, what one person considers a cliché, another might not. Writers and poets who rely on clichés may lack imagination, and I understand this perspective. Yet, determining what makes up a truism can pose a challenge.