I would as soon write free verse as play tennis with the net down

I would as soon write free verse as play tennis with the net down

Robert Frost was a poet known for his traditional style of writing, often using formal structures and rhyme schemes in his poetry. He once famously said, “I would as soon write free verse as play tennis with the net down,” indicating his disdain for the lack of structure and rules in free verse poetry.

Frost believed that poetry should have a sense of order and discipline, much like a game of tennis with a net that provides boundaries and structure. Just as playing tennis without a net would result in chaos and confusion, Frost felt that writing free verse without any rules or constraints would lead to a lack of coherence and meaning in poetry.

Frost’s preference for traditional forms of poetry can be seen in his own work, which often adhered to strict rhyme schemes and metrical patterns. His poems, such as “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” and “The Road Not Taken,” are celebrated for their lyrical beauty and musicality, qualities that are often associated with formal poetry.

While Frost’s views on free verse may seem rigid and old-fashioned to some, they reflect his belief in the importance of structure and craftsmanship in poetry. Frost believed that poetry should be a carefully crafted art form, with each word and line chosen deliberately to create a specific effect on the reader.