Free verse poems have no rhyme or rhythm and they do not follow any rules whereas sonnets are fourteen line poems which are written in iambic pentameter. Although free verse poems are considered to be a more modern form of poetry, they have actually been around for hundreds of years. They still qualify as an artistic expression and the poet will chose their own rules for their poem if they decide they want to have any. Most free verse poems are still written in stanzas or some sort of organized form. They can be short, long, concrete or abstract, image driven, and full of metaphors and similes.
The sonnet typically has ten syllables per line and it follows a strict rhyme scheme and specific structure. The poet must follow the rhythm of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. The lines are arranged into three stanzas of four lines and end with a two line stanza. They follow an ABAB rhyme scene. Sonnets must follow a strict pattern or else they do not qualify as a stanza. Free verse allows much more room compared to a sonnet.
