Final answer:
Solzhenitsyn's "Freedom to Breathe" employs elements of poetic form within a prose structure, using poetic devices without traditional meter and rhyme, aligning with the evolution of democratic literature as described by Robert Bly. The prose poem challenges conventional reading with its free-flowing form and deliberate use of breath.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's prose poem "Freedom to Breathe" incorporates elements of poetic form, even though it follows a prose structure. Unlike traditional poetry that adheres to a strict meter, rhyme, and stanzaic pattern, a prose poem such as Solzhenitsyn's works within the freedom of prose while still employing poetic devices like imagery, rhythm, musical language, internal rhymes, and others. Therefore, the poem takes advantage of the richness and condensed syntax of poetry, while presenting it in a prose-like format that might resemble ordinary speech or narrative.
This blend of poetry and prose is noted for revolutionizing traditional views on how verse should be written and read. According to Robert Bly, this form represents an evolution towards democracy in literature, as it moves away from rigid structures associated with elite culture to a more accessible and free-flowing form. The prose poem challenges readers and writers to engage with the text differently, invoking a deliberate pacing and fluctuation in breath as the lines unfold, as can be seen in similar works by poets like Allen Ginsberg and Charles Olson.