When I teach the poetry section of Creative Writing, I have students bring in and read a favorite poem then explain why they like it. About 80% of the poems they bring in are rhyming poems. When regular people think of poetry, most of them think of rhyme. My students will occasionally ask of free verse, "What makes this a poem?" To most people, poetry rhymes. I think the abandonment of rhyme is part of the reason why poetry has dropped off the charts as a popular form of literature (not just that, but it's a big part).
Now, something else. Re-reading "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," I came across one of my all-time favorites, near the end:
He went like one that hath been stunned.
Love that rhyme! Not an exact rhyme but unexpected and good.
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