Free Verse

Free Verse
was never understood-
no one could make up their minds
about Free Verse.

Free Verse
Was caught by police;
Waited for trial,
Never released.

The charge
Was lack of meter or rhyme-
Sentenced by court
To indefinite time.

Verse was now
Just Verse, not free;
Kept in a cell
Under lock, under key.

Outside the prison,
Rioters came,
Protesting, “Give back
To Free Verse his name!”

Verse was measured,
Challenged for reason,
Tested and analyzed
Every season.

Outside the prison,
The riots grew worse-
Stampeding crowds,
Signs reading: Free Verse!

Finally, from
The literary jail,
Verse, free once more,
Was let out on bail.

Free Verse
breathed in the light,
the open air,
ran fingers along walls
that were not barred-
almost never to rhyme again.

But – was the law fair
Under which he was tried?
Does anyone know?
Can anyone decide?