Oh man, we are in a similar position... Let me explain.

Before Steemit life, I can't say I hated poetry, but I never engaged in this kind of art. NEVER, literally never :D In my life, I've read a few poems. I was never interested and never was around it. It just wasn't my kind of art.

Now on Steemit, as you know, I am part of the poetry challenge. I wrote 65 poems in 65 days, and I have 35 days left. What I can say is that I changed my opinion about poetry. Well, I probably never had one, because I was never around poetry to talk about it and to feel something about it. But now, I am enjoying it and I can catch myself walking down the street and doing poetry in my head. I never remember it, but sometimes it sounds really cool haha

During this challenge, I started to learn what poetry is and what are some rules to stick with it. As soon as I found out about the rules, my poetry started to be awful. I just couldn't write what I want because of these rules. Luckily, that period is over, it was between 40th and 55th poem. But, as you said it, there is a free verse poem with almost no rules, and for me, poetry must be free... I'm kinda experimenting now with rhyming poems, and enjoying it :)

Thanks for a great post my friend! Have a great time in those classes!