#1 03-03-2011 17:06:17
- rhiannon
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- Registered: 12-19-2005
- Posts: 1417
What's an easy way for meter?
My poems always get high marks for images, feelings, and word choice, and for the reveiws that say that, I am thankful. But my one big flaw as a poet is that meter is difficult for me. Any suggestions?
"Who can tell the dancer from the dance?"--Yeats
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#2 03-05-2011 19:24:22
- Spargo Postle
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- Registered: 04-20-2010
- Posts: 339
Re: What's an easy way for meter?
Dear Rhiannon,
Sorry, I can't provide you with any thechnical help as poetry is new to me but I have to say that reading poetry aloud tends help. If it feels like it has rhythm, or flow, then the meter is probably right. For me, when I read some of my stuff out loud the parts that don't meter correctly usually stick out like a sore thumb and if the whole thing sounds like it stutters or halting then it just isn't going to work. Also, I find that the structure of the stanza's helps with the general feel of the piece, so long as I get the words right that is.
Sorry I only gave you my thoughts rather than academic tecnical help but hopefully it will help.
Love Ya, Spargo Postle.
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#3 03-06-2011 12:09:15
- jpb2ndchance
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Re: What's an easy way for meter?
Hi Rhiannon, Basically, very basically, meter is writing in a pattern of accented and unaccented syllables. Generally meter depends on the "foot" which is the stressed syllable. How the feet are arranged would constitute the pattern. Some very simple examples:
Iambic pattern - Starts with an unstressed syllable, ends with a stressed - "to be or not to be"
u a u a u a
Trochaic - Starts with stressed, ends with unstressed - "doule, doule, toil and trouble"
a u a u a u a u
Anapestic - Starts with 2 unaccented followed by 1 accented - "I arise and unbuild it again"
u u a u u a u u a
There are all sorts of classical patterns that can be found in various poetry texts. When writing free verse, non-classical forms, then how you stress syllables and attain a meter is up to you. Line breaks can help define your individual pattern. The strength of a word can help as well. Reading your piece aloud, as you wish it to be heard will help you recognize the meter. Modern poetry is much less dependent on meter and more on structure. We're in the age of "if it sounds good, it must be poetry". LOL.
Don't know if this will help or not. Just keep at it. You'll do just fine.
jim
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#4 09-22-2011 10:17:23
- rhiannon
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- Registered: 12-19-2005
- Posts: 1417
Re: What's an easy way for meter?
Spargo, jpb, thanks; I do the reading aloud and basically ignore the pattern, but lately people have been praising the meter, and I thought, heh, wouldn't it be great to do it consciously and intentiionally, instead of just letting it happen. I've also toyed with the idea of having my non-human characters talk in iambic pentameter; the problem is, that's work. lol Thanks again.
"Who can tell the dancer from the dance?"--Yeats
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#5 09-22-2011 11:49:33
- Kydd Dustyn
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Re: What's an easy way for meter?
rhiannon... yeah, what Jim said... hehehe.
For me, it's pretty easy the way I do it. I play piano so I set my metronome. Sounds silly, but it works.
On others (those that aren't straight-out rhymes or limericks), I simply count the syllables on my fingers for each line and make sure they match or have basically the same pattern of rhythm when read. I make sure to have certain words stress in particular places. That way, I don't have to remember any formulas, theories, etc. Meter in my poetry is my intellectual game of hopscotch. Okay, okay, so I'm weird. 
As for my rhymed stuff--if it doesn't sound like it came out of an adult Dr. Seuss book, it's not good enough... hehehehe.
Kydd
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#6 09-22-2011 20:02:35
- rhiannon
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- Registered: 12-19-2005
- Posts: 1417
Re: What's an easy way for meter?
Kydd Dustyn wrote:
rhiannon... yeah, what Jim said... hehehe.
For me, it's pretty easy the way I do it. I play piano so I set my metronome. Sounds silly, but it works.
On others (those that aren't straight-out rhymes or limericks), I simply count the syllables on my fingers for each line and make sure they match or have basically the same pattern of rhythm when read. I make sure to have certain words stress in particular places. That way, I don't have to remember any formulas, theories, etc. Meter in my poetry is my intellectual game of hopscotch. Okay, okay, so I'm weird.
As for my rhymed stuff--if it doesn't sound like it came out of an adult Dr. Seuss book, it's not good enough... hehehehe.
Kydd
Counting on my fingers--now, that I can relate too, as I'm very kinesthetic when I do poetry--it's a very feeling thing for me. So why not use an external kinestheic sense--touch. Don't knock Dr. Seuss. lol Thanks for the help.
"Who can tell the dancer from the dance?"--Yeats
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