Solitary

[Joey Automata]

This is my first time here so excuse me if I don't follow proper protocol.

Let me start off with the basic: why I read your poem. I'm not gonna read every single poem on this forum. When I scour collections of poetry, whether on a forum like this or even a collection from one of my favorite poets, I look at the titles. I read the ones that catch my eye. And your title caught my eye. I like the contradiction in the title.

Free in Solitary

I'm free, in solitary confines.
My body is stationary, but mind defined.

Speaking of contradiction, I really liked your first two lines. The rhyme scheme, the rhythm, the contradiction, and the play on the title.

I steal my solace from distress.
Casting free this suit of flesh,
I encounter an alter-consciousness
where imagination rules unconfined.

Started to kind of lose me after the strong introduction. The rhyme scheme got a little inconsistent and the imagery wasn't as clear. Also, the contradictions got a little weaker. Plus, I didn't like that you used the word "confine" again.

Tiny atoms whisper rhymes
of merry play and ringing chimes.
I'm bent across the sill of possibility
floating aimlessly and free.

The rhyme scheme of the first stanza kind of confused me. It's AABBBAAACC. Maybe that's a thing. I've never heard of that scheme. It doesn't really work for me. I'm not sure if that was intentional.

Time now, my friend, not foe.
And I clutch it to my heart
to make it so: with force of fury
bent upon my soul and mind.

The poem got a little too sing-songy at this point. The rhythm became a little too melodic, unlike earlier in the poem.

Sweet dreams, where urgent passions show
two faces of this confine grow;
shades of loneliness and excitement

"Loneliness and excitement" kind of throw me off. I'm not sure if you did that intentionally to continue with the contradiction theme.

lighting distant paths to know,
a wealth of visions, those paths aglow.

A myriad of dreams engage

The verb "engage" doesn't really work for me. But I do like the crystal sea and swan metaphor.

and float upon a crystal sea;
as does the swan so gracefully
leave behind his traces aimlessly.
As I, free in solitary confines
float with open curiosity.
I leave behind my traces aimlessly,
for some poor fool to follow me.

Rhyme scheme throws me off again. This last stanza was ABBBCBBB. And many of those "B" rhymes were more of slant rhymes than exact rhymes.

Overall, I think you were a little inconsistent in your deliver. The rhyme scheme was inconsistent, the rhythm was choppy at bars and melodic at others, and the imagery switched back and forth between concrete and abstract.