'A piece of poetry'

[Englishuser]

Good evening everyone,

I was once told that it's incorrect to write "a piece of poetry." (I mean that the wording is incorrect, not that it'd be wrong to write a poem.) It just happens that Mark Twain uses the expression in his legendary Huck Finn. And this isn't found in Jim's speech or anything but in the narrative. It'd be very interesting to hear what you think of this: is Mark Twain erring or is 'a piece of poetry' a cast-into-piece expression?

[Mister Micawber]

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I am not familar with the phrase, 'a cast-into-piece expression', but I find nothing wrong with the phrase, 'a piece of poetry'.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Englishuser]

Hi,

And thanks for your reply. This just proves that different experts on English have different opinions when it comes to what they consider 'proper English'.

Regards.

[Mister Micawber]

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Sorry, but I fail to see who the other 'expert' is. What did that expert offer in lieu of 'piece'?
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_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mister Micawber

[Pamela]

Piece of poetry is rather common in English,it's the same as poem :DPlease give an example where "cast into piece"is used.Please,follow your topic "cast...

[Englishuser]

Pamela,

I thought so myself but it happens that a rather experienced expert on English disagreed.

Regards.