The Poetics of PlainSpeech

Free verse is defined as a term that describes various styles of poetry that are not written using strict meter or rhyme but is still recognizable as poetry. At times, poets deviate from the "normal" scheme of poetry by writing freely. I think most readers and most people in general have the idea that poetry consists of rhyming patterns and a style recognized as Modernism. Upon reading the poems of this week, I noticed there are many more poems than I previously thought that consist of free verse. I can relate to these poems much more than other poems for the mere fact that they are easier to understand and the style of writing is to the point.
For instance in Philip Larkin's poem, "This Be The Verse," Larkin uses a rhyme scheme and alliteration to emphasize his use of poetic elements. He tells a short story and writes in stanzas with the last stanza consisting of metrical variation. Any reader will be able to read his work and understand it is a poem because of the poetic elements he incorporates into his writing. His poem was to the point and much easier to interpret than previous poems I have read that consist of the Modernism style of poetry.
I think when poets write of what they feel without using a hidden meaning, it makes their poetry all the more effective and comprehensible. I think most readers would agree that it is more effective to get to the point than to have a message that most people cannot understand. On the other hand, part of what makes poetry so effective is the fact that each individual reader can make his or her own meaning of the poem. A poem can mean anything you want it to mean when it is not straight to the point. I enjoy free verse more than any other style of poetry because I find more meaning from the poetry when it is straight forward and to the point.