But I know what you mean. Iambic pentameter just sounds good. Sounds *right*. So most of what I do does end up falling into that general area. But I like the idea of starting a piece without any preconceptions of what it will “be,” meter, stanza length, whatever. So that beginning pre-writing period, I guess, is what I’m talking about.

I probably am a formalist, though. Aimee used to always call me a romantic with my nonfiction pieces even though I’d try to play all coy and cynical. My talk is more righteous than my walk.

One thing I’ve learned (the hard way) in grad school is that free verse is almost impossible to do well. Which reminds me to tease you for using as your example of free verse six line stanzas of almost perfect iambic meter with feminine endings. You’re a formalist, dude.