free verse 的词源

1869年；将 vers libre 英文化。

But it is possible that excessive devotion to rhyme has thickened the modern ear. The rejection of rhyme is not a leap at facility; on the contrary, it imposes a much severer strain upon the language. When the comforting echo of rhyme is removed, success or failure in the choice of words, in the sentence structure, in the order, is at once more apparent. Rhyme removed, the poet is at once held up to the standards of prose. Rhyme removed, much ethereal music leaps up from the word, music which has hitherto chirped unnoticed in the expanse of prose. [T.S. Eliot, "Reflections on Vers libre," New Statesman, 3 March 1917]

但过于追求押韵可能让现代人的耳朵变得迟钝。拒绝押韵并不是为了追求简单，恰恰相反，这对语言提出了更严格的要求。当押韵的安慰回声消失时，词语选择、句子结构和词序的成功与否立刻变得更加明显。一旦去掉押韵，诗人就被要求达到散文的标准。去掉押韵，许多之前在散文中默默无闻的音乐瞬间从词语中跃然而出，那些音乐如同精灵般在空中舞动。[T.S. Eliot, "Reflections on Vers libre," New Statesman, 1917年3月3日]