"I like rhyme because it is memorable, I like form because having to work to a pattern gives me original ideas"

Anne Stevenson's quote encapsulates a profound appreciation for the structural elements of poetry, revealing both useful and creative inspirations behind her affinity for rhyme and kind. Her statement highlights the double nature of poetic constructs: they are all at once restrictive and liberating.

Starting with the appreciation for rhyme, Stevenson discuss a basic quality of rhyming poetry: its memorability. Rhyme typically functions as a mnemonic gadget, making poems much easier to remember and recite. This can boost the availability and longevity of a poem, allowing it to resonate across generations as it becomes deep-rooted in cultural memory. Rhyme likewise offers a pleasing auditory experience, creating a musicality that boosts the psychological and aesthetic appeal of poetry.

On the other hand, Stevenson's preference for poetic form over totally free verse highlights the imaginative discipline that form enforces. The "work to a pattern" she refers to might include adhering to fixed structures like sonnets, haikus, or villanelles. Such frameworks require accuracy and mindful selection of words, frequently leading poets to check out language in ingenious ways, pressing the limits of expression. Within this constraint, there is freedom; the necessity to fit ideas into a specific metric or rhyme scheme can lead to unforeseen turns of phrase or unique images, sparking original concepts that might not have emerged in a less structured setting.

Stevenson's quote thus celebrates the paradoxical nature of poetic form-- it is both a challenge and a wellspring of creativity. By welcoming rhyme and kind, poets can harness the power of language, not only enhancing their work's appeal and memorability but likewise opening brand-new avenues of idea and expression. Her statement is a testament to the enduring worth of structured poetic customs in fostering innovation and maintaining the beauty of language.