Would the METER maid come forward

[_Land]

For those of us poor individuals who have no understanding of meter.......(Yes I Included Myself in that statement)
Could we have some of the more experienced poets take a little time to explain meter, why its so important.......how it effects the read, or reader. Perhaps using simple forms to show examples of the different types of meter.............I know I personaly struggle with meter, my dick just wont measure up *sigh*

but seriously please help thanks in advance _Land

 

[smithpeter]

all I know

da dip da dip da dip
da dip da dippity dip
da dip da dip da dip
your nose has quite a drip


sp needs learnin too

 

[_Land]

Re: all I know

da dip da dip da dip
da dip da dippity dip
da dip da dip da dip
your nose has quite a drip


sp needs learnin too

drip a drip for a quip?

 

[OT]

listen to the rhythm (of the falling rain...)

First a quote from Webster:
"The measured arrangement of words in poetry, as by accentual rhythm, syllabic quantity, or the number of syllables in a line. b. A particular arrangement of words in poetry, such as iambic pentameter, determined by the kind and number of metrical units in a line. c. The rhythmic pattern of a stanza, determined by the kind and number of lines.
"

More simply put, balance the lines.
Start with same number of syllables in each line, then for bonus points, have every other syllable accented. It'll sound "familiar and natural"

As many before have recommended, if you read a poem out loud, you can usually tell that it sounds right or not. It's like tapping your foot to music. Without ever having heard the tune before, you can probably find the beat just fine.



O.T.
peek at my prose

 

[Unmasked Poet]

Meter and general ranting

Land,

Do not concern yourself with meter per se. Understand that meter is breathing, it is a measurement based on the human body not one of millimeters or music. The origins of meter are based on a heartbeat. SP's da dip, example is too short on the second sound. (dip) Think instead of the humane, a human heart moves sound in a pattern of : Ba Boom, Ba Boom this is actually closer to the truth. The time in which it takes to say “Ba Boom” is a meter. A meter is simply a short syllable followed by a long syllable. Ba - boom, get it? You will also see the word “Iambic” this is simply a single meter or one Ba Boom.

Many poems and a great deal of Shakespeare works are written in Iambic Pentameter. That is simply ten syllables per line, with each one having a short and long sound. Here is a perfect line of iambic pentameter.

"When I do count the clock that tells the time”

Rhythm in poetry and prose is created with meter. Rhyme is something else. Rhytm is is not simply syllable count but also where the short and long sounds are on each word in a series of lines.

Example:

"When I do count the clock that tells the time."
"I wait until the day becomes the night"

These lines are both metered in the same way and as such they have rhythm, notice how easily they flow together. But they in no way rhyme. As you gain skill you may well learn to use meter effectively. Simply having an equal number of syllables will do nothing in your search for rhythm. You must match the stresses. You can also alternate rhythm bu changing the stresses from line to line. Where the art of rhyme comes in is integrating meter with rhyme patterns. This combination of poetic devices form the basis for most forms used in the English, German and the Russian language.

If you want to know where all of this crap was interpreted from, research the poetry and language of China.

Become comfortable with words, learn cliché, then poetic devices, then forms. Then you’re a poet. After you learn all that shit then you can mix it all up. Turn every rule upside down and write good freeverse.
Freeverse by the way is a form!

U.P.

 

[perks]

UP rocks.

As for meter, Homer Pindar is a good source too, _Land. You might look to him for a few answers. Although, UP gave you enough to work with.

I'm not sure I have a clue about it either. Maybe an exercise is in order?

 

[lickmyboot]

Exercise

Perky...you sound like JUDO with her mammoth challenges.

If _Land's in, I'm up for it. I can dance, but when it comes to poetic meter, I've got two left feet. I'm just a lazy freeverser!

Let me get my leg warmers. I think you should lead this aerobics class Perky. You have such nice assets in those shorts.

 

[_Land]

Re: Exercise

Perky...you sound like JUDO with her mammoth challenges.

If _Land's in, I'm up for it. I can dance, but when it comes to poetic meter, I've got two left feet. I'm just a lazy freeverser!

Let me get my leg warmers. I think you should lead this aerobics class Perky. You have such nice assets in those shorts.

Push ups are ok with me, just dont ask for chin ups.........


Thatnks for taking the time to explain UP.........I realy appreciate it

_Land

 

[perks]

not sure I can lead, as I don't understand, but if I take UP's directions, maybe I can figure something out. Let me think on it a moment.

 

[lickmyboot]

hmmm...

We could take UP literally and write a poem about the heart in ba-boom meter. What do you think?

 

[_Land]

Re: hmmm...

We could take UP literally and write a poem about the heart in ba-boom meter. What do you think?

Kind of like this

Falling Silent
by _Land ©
The conversation stops
We fall silent
What else is there to say
The silence is pleasant
We have covered every subject
The breeze whispers
Unburdened our hearts rest
simple pleasure sings
leaning over i kiss you
thumpthump, thumpthump,thumpthump

Except i think im out of meter on two lines

 

[perks]

let me try

a moment spent with you
is all I care to live
not tomorrow or today
but just the here and now
how long is time measured?
and what does it mean to us
when we forget that life exists
in one heart's beat of lust



hmmmmm, fuck if I know if I did it or not.

 

[lickmyboot]

Hmm...let's see

Desire

The song of you still beats within my breast
skipped twice, a waltz of cells spin 'round
with just one glance from you.
Music thunders in my ears when you walk past
dancers pause--
as I recall to breathe.
A simple smile and my heart
stumbles at the beat.

We need LH to take a peek and tell us where we've strayed. Or maybe WE or UP. Anyone?