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Sample Free Verse Worksheet
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Free Verse By Brenda B. Covert

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¹     Many people consider free verse to be a modern form of poetry. The truth is that it has been around for several centuries; only in the 20th century did it become one of the most popular forms of poetry. Its popularity stems from the belief that free verse is poetry without rules; after all, it doesn't rhyme, and it doesn't have a meter. However, what separates poetry from prose is the arrangement of carefully chosen words into verses.
 
²     There's more to free verse than a sudden thought recorded on paper. It's not that no rules apply to free verse; rather, the poet makes up the rules for each poem! Free verse done well will have rhythm, though it may not have a regular beat. A variety of poetic devices may be woven throughout the piece. There may be patterns of sound and repetition. Free verse can be compared to a song that doesn't rhyme. There is still a lyric quality to it.
 
³     It may be more difficult to write free verse than any other form, simply because the poet has more decisions to make. With a haiku, you know the exact measurement of the poem; your task is easily defined. You need only follow the rules of the pattern. With free verse, there is no pattern until the poet creates one!
 
⁴     Without set rules, you are free to decide where to break your poem into stanzas. You may arrange your poem in stanzas of two or more lines. You may break at each new thought, much like paragraphs. You may break stanzas in mid-sentence to draw attention to a specific word or phrase. Like American poet Walt Whitman, you might break stanzas at the point where one would take a breath, were he or she reading aloud. It's up to you.
 
⁵     As we try our hand at writing free verse, we will begin by writing our thoughts all together, without stanzas. Then we can go back and edit the words, removing unnecessary ones or choosing more powerful synonyms, and working to cut and shape the poem. We'll know we are through when we're satisfied with the message and the shape of our poem.
 
⁶     First, let's analyze this short free verse poem.
 
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I Dream'd in a Dream   8     by Walt Whitman   9

  I DREAM'D in a dream I saw a city invincible to the attacks of the   10     Â Â Â Â whole of the rest of the earth,   11     Â Â I dream'd that was the new city of Friends,   12     Â Â Nothing was greater there than the quality of robust love, it led Paragraphs 13 to 56: For the complete story with questions: click here for printable Weekly Reading Books           Create Weekly Reading Books Prepare for an entire week at once! Feedback on Free Verse Leave your feedback on Free Verse   (use this link if you found an error in the story) More Lessons              Poetry Copyright © 2018 edHelper