It should here be added that poetry habitually takes the form of

John Drinkwater, in his insightful reflection, makes a point that is both simple and profound: “It should here be added that poetry habitually takes the form of verse.” This statement seems to speak directly to the very essence of poetry—that it is not merely a collection of words strung together, but a form of artistic expression that often follows the structure of verse. Verse, with its rhythm, meter, and rhyme, is the heartbeat of poetry. It is through verse that poetry takes on its musical qualities, transforming the written word into something that resonates with the soul. Like a finely tuned instrument, verse adds layers of meaning, emotion, and beauty to the words, elevating them to a level that is both universal and timeless.

In the ancient world, verse was the very foundation of poetry. Think of Homer, whose Iliad and Odyssey were composed in dactylic hexameter, a metrical pattern that created a rhythmic flow for the listener’s ear. Homer's verse was not just a vehicle for storytelling, but a medium that heightened the power of his narrative. The rhythm of the verse imbued the epic tales with a sense of grandeur, urgency, and flow, transporting the listener to worlds of gods and heroes. In ancient times, verse was vital not only for its aesthetic beauty but for its ability to aid in the memorization of the poetry. It was through verse that epic poetry lived on, passed from one generation to the next, long before the written word became widely accessible.

In the Middle Ages, poets like Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy, and Geoffrey Chaucer in The Canterbury Tales, continued the tradition of poetry in verse. Both poets, writing in Italian and Middle English respectively, used verse as a means to explore the divine, the human, and the moral. Dante’s terza rima in Divine Comedy—a three-line rhyme scheme—carried the narrative of the soul’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven, allowing the reader to feel the rhythm of the journey, while Chaucer used the rhyme royal in The Canterbury Tales to create a sense of flow and continuity in his stories of pilgrims on their journey to Canterbury. Through verse, both poets gave their work a musicality that captured the audience's imagination and connected them to the themes of the divine, the earthly, and the eternal.

In the modern age, while free verse poetry became more prominent, poets like Walt Whitman and T.S. Eliot still understood the power of verse as a formal structure that enhances the meaning of the words. Whitman, in his epic Leaves of Grass, often embraced the flexibility of free verse, but there is a rhythmic cadence to his lines that reflects the deeper pulse of his work. Similarly, Eliot, though a master of free verse, used rhythm and sound as tools to infuse his poetry with a deeper emotional resonance. For both, verse is a vehicle that carries the weight of their themes, from the search for meaning in a modern world to the expression of the soul’s deepest desires and struggles.

The true power of verse in poetry, however, lies not merely in its formal qualities, but in its ability to connect deeply with the human spirit. The rhythm and structure of verse create a pattern, a dance between the poet and the reader, one that invites them into a shared emotional experience. In verse, there is order and chaos in balance. It is not simply an aesthetic decision, but a way of weaving the poet’s voice into something that echoes across time. When the great poets of the past wrote in verse, they understood that the sound, the rhythm, and the movement of the words were just as important as the meaning they conveyed.

Drinkwater's assertion about verse teaches us that the true nature of poetry is found not just in the meaning of the words, but in the way they are structured, in the rhythm that carries them forward. Verse provides a musical element that makes poetry unique among all forms of writing. Just as music is composed of notes and measures that must fit together in harmony, poetry is composed of words and rhythms that must fit together to create a sense of beauty, movement, and meaning. The poet’s task is to shape language in a way that speaks not just to the intellect but to the soul.

The lesson here is one of appreciation and understanding. When we read poetry, we must recognize the power of verse—not just the words, but the rhythms and the sounds. The best poetry sings, it moves, it carries us beyond the immediate into the universal. Whether we read the epics of Homer, the divine journeys of Dante, or the emotional rhythms of Whitman, we must remember that verse is not merely a form but a profound expression of human experience. Poetry, in its truest form, is a union of meaning and sound, of words and rhythm, working together to elevate us.

Practical actions follow. As a poet, if you wish to create work that resonates deeply with others, pay close attention to the verse—the rhythms, the meters, the sounds. Understand that poetry is not just about the words but about the relationship between those words and the music they create. Experiment with verse in your own writing, even as you explore more modern forms of free verse. As a reader, immerse yourself in the poetry you encounter, not just for its meaning but for its musicality. Listen to the rhythm, feel the pulse of the lines, and understand that these are the threads that bind us to the deep currents of human experience.

Thus, John Drinkwater's words remind us that verse is the backbone of poetry. It is what gives poetry its rhythm, its flow, its power to move us emotionally. As we read and create, let us honor the sacred bond between verse and poetry, recognizing that the beauty and depth of the written word lie not only in what is said but in how it is said.