We wrote six poems this semester, four in fixed form and two in Free Verse. We spend a good deal of energy in class workshopping each poem, with students often marveling at some aspect of a classmate’s poem, perhaps making suggestions for edits or additions. Continuing our exploration of iambic pentameter from Poetry 1, we wrote an English Sonnet, an Italian Sonnet and finally a Terza Rima. Then we wrote Sapphic Stanzas, a Greek form that uses the duration of syllables to create patterns and rhythms. It’s challenging in English which, unlike Greek, has no fixed durations. Having been so compositional for both Poetry 1 and Poetry 2, moving into Free Verse usually terrifies the students. But the compositional tools and principles they carry, with their focus on prosody, prepared them to be intentional in Free Verse as well. Being …
