A Free And Easy Poem

Methought that I

Sometime would try

To write a poem good (or bad)

Upon some fad,

Or other thing of more or less

Account, I guess,

And not distress

Myself about rhyme or flow

Or reason, or feet, or measure, but let her go

Now fast, not slow,

Just along in her own way,

Letting her have, say,

Thirteen inches to the foot, or more

If she wants, and let her rhyme

At any old time

If she will,

And if she won’t why wait until

She does, then emphasize

The rhyme so everyone will recognize

What it is meant for,

And what my time was spent for.

I don’t believe in strict poetic rules

As do some stiff-necked, scholastic fools,

Any more than I believe a pretty brook

Should be cut up and made to look

Like a ditch

Which

Is often done

By some rich

Bull-headed,

Much to be dreaded

Son,

Of a gun.

No, I believe in letting

Her go along

In a sing-song

Free and easy way, and getting

The real juice of the grape

Into shape.

So

An hour or so

Ago

I begun it,

And now I have done it.

Oct. 4, 1896

Pub. in N.Y. Herald

Sunday, Dec. 13, 96