Seeing Red - A Free-Writing Exercise

Is there any truth to the notion "if it doesn't rhyme then it isn't poetry"? Frankly, non-rhyming poetry has a strong standing and, for most poets, is far easier to write than (good) rhyming poetry. (Good rhyming poetry employs fresh, unexpected rhymes, which are hard to come by.)

Free verse (commonly used for stream of consciousness poetry) uses lines of varying lengths (syllable counts). Rhyming poetry, with its almost perpetual reliance on iambic pentameter, is comprised of lines with identical syllable counts. Also, don't overuse lines with hard endings (periods and commas). Allow a sentence to span two or more lines (or verses) and start/end in mid-line. But don't just separate sentences willy nilly. Think about how that brief pause between the end of one line and the start of another- affects the meaning of the words.

Most rhyming poetry uses the regular rhythm of iambic pentameter, e.g. "My love is like a red red rose." Free verse uses irregular rhythm that can be used to fit the mood of the words. Staccato rhythm works best for action-oriented and angry poems. Other poems benefit from the rise and fall, the ebb and flow of a gentler rhythm.

Colour Exercise - Red:

The "red" exercise is very simple. Take 15 minutes to free-write—no stopping and minimal thinking--about "red" (an egg timer makes a great time keeper for this). Prose or verse is okay. Write whatever comes naturally. The idea is to loosen up your thinking. I prefer to free-write with pen and paper, but use whichever tools work best for you.

Here's the flash fiction piece I wrote during the exercise:

ON SEEING RED

Lipstick slashes on his collar betray an earlier tryst.

She tries to soak them, tries to rub them out, but they hold fast, as firm as her fears and as sharp as her imagination. They won’t go away.

She can no sooner erase her love of who he used to be.

Some stains are permanent.