my mom changed
my/our familys
life's history

do I qualify

I guess I’m my own hero,
my life's explained this way --
I always say just what I mean;
mean seldom what I say.

Philosophy for living?
Stated piously --
life is simply far too short
to take it seriously.

OK, it's not free verse, but is as close as this inveterate rhymer can manage. Just sharing.

Is certainly acceptable but the judge is looking for free verse which likely precludes a structured form. And the subject should be about a Known historic figure......BTW the 28 lines is a maximum not a requirement so shorter poem is perfectly acceptable........stan

I thought I already posted this? (twenty eight lines exactly, counting the spaces)

One fine day
around the year one or two
(though it was not called that, then)
a male child was born, they named him Jesus
(at least that’s the modern equivalent).

By all accounts he was a happy child,
inclined to be a bit studious
but what is wrong with that?

He trained to be a carpenter,
which came in handy much later
when he had to join two timbers into a T
which would carry his weight.

Unlettered was a description some gave but my he could spin a good yarn.
Not just any old tale but moral narratives that slid into memory.
I mean, man he could tell a story.

He was a good man, a kind man, even children were drawn to him.
You would believe none could take offense!
But some did!
My, didn’t they just!

Long story - short
They hung him up on that T to die.
Not the Jewish way. They only hung up the dead
and only then till dusk.