Poetry has many recognized forms but currently, free verse seems to be favored. Although I write many free verse poems, I like to build in subtle structure. There must be something odd about me that insists on using poetry "keys" otherwise it just isn't "right." For my family, poetry still needs to be rhymed and metered. At least I don't go that far, but for the most part, if you look closely at what I write, you will be able to discover little things that make it more valid . . . even if just for me. Here is an example that I wrote two months ago:

Vacation

            By Margaret V. Doran, June, 2013

No school

One quarter-moon

One comfy quilt

One folding table

Two ground pads

Two cotton curtains

Three giggly girls

No flashlight

One ten-striped June beetle . . . !!!

One table, one quilt, two pads, two curtains, three girls

Vacate the lawn.

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First, the poem includes a modest amount of alliteration and it establishes a pattern for the verses: one line -0-, three lines -1-, two lines -2- and one line -3-. The pattern is obvious, particularly when it begins to repeat for the second verse. Then it suddenly breaks, providing a little humorous play on words for the last line.  The best thing about this poem (for me) was that it prompted a flurry of poetry from three little girls who had confined themselves to the house temporarily and wrote acrostic poems.