I have just recently had
An important anniversary of one sort.
For the past three months my poetry writing has made me glad,
A total 50 poems written I can report.
I might not be very good
But I make up for that being prolific.
A lot of poetry-writing rules I've read, and follow them I should
Supposedly to make my poetry terrific.
I have learned all about
Rhymes, meter, and iambic pentameter.
End-rhyming couplets were initially my favorite, without doubt.
Stanza, alliteration, syllabic meter,
Assonance and enjambment,
Scansion, quatrains, and blank verses.
All these things soon resulted in an enlarging discontentment.
Trying to comply made me utter curses!
(All along I should note,
Comments from the Heavy Critique Forum
Were extremely helpful, especially from both Cohen and Philopote.)
Poetry is NOT about rules or decorum.
My "Norton Anthology"
Has shown me poems come in all styles.
Some poets follow most rules; others follow none without apology.
A poem can be good 'tho some it riles
By not obeying any rules.
Poems not only vary in style but shape!
To communicate their message poets can use various poetic tools,
One poem being written in 'swan shape'!
(Hope this doesn't disappoint.
I wanted to make outstanding points!)

{ASIDE: The swan-shaped poem is "Swan and Shadow" by John Hollander
on page 1664 in the 4th edition of "The Norton Anthology of Poetry".
I could not manage the shape of a swan (and its shadow!),
or even a duck , but had to settle for a series of 'points'. }