Free Verse with a Hidden Constraint

Free verse that is actually free tends to wander. This writes a poem on your subject that looks unconstrained but quietly follows a rule: every line ends on a stressed syllable, and no two lines in a row share a length. The constraint stays invisible to a casual reader and gives the poem a spine. For poets who want discipline without making the seams show.

Write a free verse poem about {SUBJECT} that appears completely unconstrained but secretly obeys this rule: every line must end on a stressed syllable, and no two consecutive lines may be the same length (measured in syllables). Do not explain the rule anywhere in the poem. The subject matter should feel natural and unforced: the constraint should be invisible to a casual reader. Aim for 16 to 24 lines. Use enjambment strategically to create momentum and surprise. The poem should move through at least three distinct emotional or imagistic registers, beginning in the concrete world, moving toward abstraction, and returning to a specific sensory detail at the close. Include at least one moment of syntactic disruption, a fragment, a list, or an interrupted clause, that creates white space on the page.