Fireflies
Glowing
orbs; small spirits
flitting through fragrant pines.
Silent, I watch the girl watch them,
entranced.
This is a Cinquain from the Amaze Journal. How can you not be impressed with this?
Granted, I can see the objection about the form, after reading a few others in the journal. They read like run on sentances.
I always imagined the 4th line to be independent. It should be able to stand on it's own (like the example above, if need be). It doesn't need the 5th line to complete it.
In my view, if you don't maintain that 4th line requirement then yes, you can do a form in free verse, cut it up neatly and there you go, instant crap probably; but it's not a Cinquain.
For me, that 4th line requirement distinguishes the Cinquain from other forms and what makes it attractive, vibrant and challenging.
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