“ The arts generally have had to recognize Modernism - how should poetry escape? John Crowe Ransom Critic
“ I never abandoned either forms or freedom. I imagine that most of what could be called free verse is in my first book. I got through that fairly early. Howard Nemerov Poet
“ Free verse seemed democratic because it offered freedom of access to writers. And those who disdained free verse would always be open to accusations of elitism, mandarinism. Open form was like common ground on which all might graze their cattle - it was not to be closed in by usurping landlords. James Fenton Poet
“ Well, it's a badge of honour for any self-respecting poet to be criticized by Auberon Waugh. But in a lot of ways my poems are very conventional, and it's no big deal for me to write a poem in either free verse or strict form; modern poets can, and do, do both. Andrew Motion Poet
“ To me, a poem that's in rhyme and meter is the difference between watching a film in full color and watching a film in black and white. Not that a few black and white films aren't wonderful. So are certain successful pieces of free verse. X. J. Kennedy Poet
“ The vast majority of free verse is ghastly. Utterly ghastly. No one reads it. No one listens to it. Felix Dennis Poet