Because most poems we know with this type of music and beat does rhyme, the effect is quite unique. Very much in your style of modern language with archaic ornaments makes the reading very fresh.
As we pick up the poem from the start, with no prior knowledge, the girl, the pie, Free and Stan are introduced to us, but Stan quickly disappears...there are several references such as "garden of ash" of places and events...We have now way of knowing what these are, but they sound magical..LIke Tolkien you might have to give us a glossary ...
It feels like a Brothers Grimm tales, I have recently rediscovered them with a 6 year old granddaughter, and I was stuck by how much action there was in every story. This happens then that, then the guy eats the witches soup and becomes a bird...on an on, till they live happily ever after, or not...So my one feeling is that we need more story here. More action or descriptions leading to the action.
The medieval flavor of the poem is an interesting place to be. I cannot say yet whether it is an allegory or just a tale, whether it will end they live happily ever after...or not. That's up to you and whether Free gets put under any spells.

to continue just the way you are! I love the asides, they tell as much of the story as any of the other lines. I think the language is good and the rhythm of it keeps it flowing nicely. ~ Gee.
.

I've read this through a few times and have a couple of points.
First is a question. Is the Stan you refer to, our Scribbler Stan and is Loved based on Lovedly?
Second thing, I think you have overused the parentheses. This might be purely personal on my part but the continued use of brackets detracts from the reading. To me. You also use the phrase 'oh no' twice, which given the variety and richness of our vocabulary, to my ears isn't necessary. Of course if you have used the repetition as a poetic device, then okay, but I think you would have had to use it more frequently, in a pattern.
The poem has a folk tale quality about it I really like, so keep with it.
Jx

I wish I could. There are some who can cross that barrier and be great poets and prose writers,
like Poe, maybe Melville, John Updike, but most poets write miserable prose, and visa versa.
For me the poetry of Joyce, Fitzgerald, and most other greats were pretty bad.. As I've been learning, a prose writer tells a story, walks in a destination to get somewhere. Poetry dances and its about itself. So be be a good story teller and poet..that's a gift I surely don't have.
I think you do, Mr. Snow. Make it so!

i had anxiety bad..so i needed the rest rooms
and travelled much
they were the 'offices' where i would
sip from a mickey to calm the rattled
nerves...in those days
walls were covered in ditties of poetry
drawings of interest
now they just paint it over as fast
as it goes up...as if the cell phones
silenced the rudimentary element
of expression

Free is a free spirit
untethered
but wanders in
and gets ingratiated
via the ....hmm...
younger muse?
in the ancient medieval
paintings there were
nymphs...virgins whose
power and strength of
virtues drew unicorns
dragons and wolves
and lost knights
the whole northern
mythos and pathos
then...suprisingly
not long after the
supression of the
church via witch trials
inquisition and the
beginning of organization
for profit
and printed word

survival
concience
societal rule
and grooming

i like the use of hunger
for i have been starving
via money or value to
remain close to someone
who needed me as a
leading figure
or my want to stay legit
and have a voice
and a choice for employment
or passage
for money has a way
of coming and going

the hunger of sharing

only lately started to do this
cigarettes...
spare coin...both which
i have few these days
helping another out
who has helped me greatly
in the rough textile of lifes
details...school of hard
knocks..is not free...
there is a tuition to this
and I have to pay for that
respect..i did not come
from that landscape
yet...when called upon
i troubleshoot
i am the voice that can
untangle the static
of the clash of egos
sticking to the protocols
and ideals.which are not
the way the true world
works really...
bridge work...
tough work but i love it

why i get free
and the girl
she offers a system
something as clever
then a mere immediacy
of satisfying a want
his foxshnausen clever
is attractive
he is male
she is female
already with intelligence
he is a provider to himself
but with the value adjusted
the ideals can incorporate
more...
the intelligence and fearless
drive of which a lot is the ego
that protects everything is
intact

its very clever and complex
and base instinct
i am still meeting the dynamic
characters in both free
and the girl to this day
presently there is ongoing
study...

your writing on walls must
have inspired some
as truly as any epic peice
of cave era expressionism
in eighty five at twenty one
i would help a driver empty
a canadian pacific pup trailer
of heavy insulated chimney
parts in a wooden storage
unit not far from the woodstove
store....the stories he shared
of the early days of trucking
was immense.....no books
but real stories...

I find your work most satisfying
in the struggles of moral value
and existentialism of non
complicated characters for
the focus of the story

Thank U Wesley
Mr Esker!

"Of the sort we have seldom to know of".....a bit convoluted don't you think?Hmmm.....I'm gonna use my new found cut and paste skill to simplify my suggestions :

This is a story of Free as you knew him,
ere came the tale of the Mountain of List.
A tale of a pie and a wise little girl
of the sort we have seldom to know of.-----see above

Free walked in some woods (of which Stan often speaks
In his poems which have since turned to song).
A pastoral wood in which blooming’s begun
(as we know Stan would tell were he here)......this stan thing...perhaps better to reference a known poet

A village was near and old Free knew the way
(although Free has never been very old)......change made to avoid convolution
and he followed a scent so much grander than blooms
which he’ll track with his finely tuned nose......track just seems to fit better

A sign he had passed but a short while ago
(oh no, not of letters and words)........just seems better this way
For strawberries ripened and that was the smell
that had baited that great angled beak..........I Think this might fit better

This was the sort of the thing (you’ll recall)
that’s got him in trouble afore now.
(In fact it was just what had brought him such grief
In the Garden of Ash long ago).

But tell that to Free with pie in the air
and you might as well talk to the trees
(oh not the great Trees of the Mulberry woods,
for they would all listen and speak).........another just seems better

Now Free picked a flower to stick in his hair
(which was still long and black as a crow).
Not silver as moon beams as Tillian caused
on that fore mentioned Mountain of List).

He broke into song (as was always his wont
when in search of adventure or pie,
but we’ll not put words here for Loved knows them well
and she’ll sing them much better than I).

His hair was still long and will probably stay
In a state such as that ‘til he dies
(although you will tell me that never will be,
for Free's the sort will never decease)..........a bit better flow?

His pants were worn loose for he’s thin as a rail
right down to his feminine hands,..............hmmm...feminine/delicate....both work don't they?
but his eyes were as large as that pie plate he sought
or so it would seem to both you and to me.

He walked with a confident jaunt in his stride........to me this just screamed for a few more beats
(but ever he walked just that way).
He hummed and he sung just thinking of pie
and how he would come by the thing.

For Free is a thief (as we all know too well)
and possessed a smooth silvery tongue..........alliteration
He’ll talk you to give up the shirt off your back
but now he was thinking of pie.....but seems more accurate

The village was near and the smell was as strong
as roses in full bloom in spring,
but square in the road stood that sweet little girl
(or so we assume that she was).

“Good morrow”, said Free in his kindest of tones,
for truly he was quite polite.
“Could’st thou point the way to the village that’s near?”....couldst demand a thou lol
as if he knew not for himself.

The girl pointed on as if he knew not the way,
though here was but one path to take.......again, more accurate
and then gave a look only twelve years can do,
for she knew quite precisely his plan.

“Well, thank you”, said Free and continued his way
with the girl tight behind him in tow......simplify
A close little jaunt much as Free’s don’t you know,
for she had no intention to leave.....unneeded contraction

This troubled poor Free who must take to account.....accuracy and clarity
that she must take a part in his plans......smoother
(which cannot be formed ‘til he locates the pie
and that will take several good sniffs).

What Free did not know was the pie was her mum’s
and soon to be shared with the house,
so she had a stake in that great beaked nose
and the eyes on the prize that he sought.

“Well, now we must part”, said Free desperately
and continued upon his own way
with great hope she’d leave,
but no, she stuck like a thorn.....simplify

And then Free did see it,
a mound of strawberry pie.......better beat?
and his mouth then commenced to drool.......sounds better?
(as yours and mine might at the sight of delectable pie).

It sat in a window a cooling away
and Free was perplexed don’t you know
at that mountain of sweet smell and longed for taste.........flow
And then the young thing gave voice to a thought..........flow

that caused Free to stop in his tracks.
“Would you share a small slice,
for I doubt that my mum would mind,
she is ready and hungry to share.”

Well this broke his heart
(which is not hard to do)
and responded with something like grace.
“You’re a wise little girl and I would love now to share,”

and that’s when Free learned not to steal.

Take any or none of these suggestions as you see fit..............stan

I can't help but thinking that "free" is a girl not a boy. This is only me of course as "free" is a female's name in Arabic so it distracts me during the reading, but I will overcome this over the time.
I am not sure of which direction this is going, I mean is it a romantic story (I hope)

Looking for the next part, but I am not sure if I will ever have something serious to suggest for improving. I mean you rarely have anything that you haven't deeply thought of, so I will only pull a chair and enjoy the read :)

Many thanks for sharing your rich imagination sir.

I have read your free flowing story, and then all the comments. (which I enjoyed immensely) I confess... I don't know much except the basics of meter, but I felt this tale ran smoothly and it held my interest throughout. I hope that you continue the tale. I really liked that "Free" could learn from a little girl, without his ego getting in the way.

always, Cat