Iambic Meter: How To
or; Word Wrestling for the Uninitiated25 total reviews
Comment from Sasha
I admire your determination to teach us 'idiots' The How to of Iambic Meter. Sadly, no matter how hard I try, the all too complicated rules of poetry turn my brain in a roller coaster riding backwards on a broken track. I read this several times, taken a class and flunked. Not something I'm proud of but could be interpreted as a clear sign I am an idiot. There, I've said it. I love poetry but doubt I will ever get past the rules.
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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I admire your determination to teach us 'idiots' The How to of Iambic Meter. Sadly, no matter how hard I try, the all too complicated rules of poetry turn my brain in a roller coaster riding backwards on a broken track. I read this several times, taken a class and flunked. Not something I'm proud of but could be interpreted as a clear sign I am an idiot. There, I've said it. I love poetry but doubt I will ever get past the rules.
Comment Written 13-Sep-2012
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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You're a country mile and a winter fruit cheesecake from stupid, Sasha. All the best poetry is free verse anyway, but I do enjoy playing with meter. If I took a class on romance fiction, I'd fail miserably! Thanks for the review :-).
Mike
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You're a country mile and a winter fruit cheesecake from stupid, Sasha. All the best poetry is free verse anyway, but I do enjoy playing with meter. If I took a class on romance fiction, I'd fail miserably! Thanks for the review :-).
Mike
Comment from Scribbler67
A poet I'm not,
A blind spot I've got,
But you'll lead me through it
And show how to do it.
Apologies for the doggerel. Couldn't resist.
Many thanks for writing this. It is clear, informative and entertaining. The use of examples definitely helps in the reader's understanding of what seems to be, but probably isn't, a minefield of literary rules.
I enjoy reading poetry, well some of it anyway, and I'm sure this will tempt me to think about writing some. I shall prepare myself for a veritable meteor shower of single stars. Hehe!
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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A poet I'm not,
A blind spot I've got,
But you'll lead me through it
And show how to do it.
Apologies for the doggerel. Couldn't resist.
Many thanks for writing this. It is clear, informative and entertaining. The use of examples definitely helps in the reader's understanding of what seems to be, but probably isn't, a minefield of literary rules.
I enjoy reading poetry, well some of it anyway, and I'm sure this will tempt me to think about writing some. I shall prepare myself for a veritable meteor shower of single stars. Hehe!
Comment Written 13-Sep-2012
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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Thank you! I find poetry great fun to write; it's perfect as an outlet for those urgent thoughts that won't wait for a story to germinate in my head. I'm glad this made sense - it's something I find myself explaining often, so I thought it was worth putting into an article.
Mike
Comment from sgalletti
Well, my friend, you definitely get a sixer from me not only for contributing to what I consider an important aspect of this site - learning, growing and improving our craft as writers, but also for the highly humorous and "friendly" way you presented this. Iambic meter is, indeed, very necessary in so many poetic forms and is also a puzzlement to many writers. I am recommending your piece to several of them. Thanks. I do encourage you to write more of these. Short, sweet, funny, friendly and to the point. Hugs, Sue
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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Well, my friend, you definitely get a sixer from me not only for contributing to what I consider an important aspect of this site - learning, growing and improving our craft as writers, but also for the highly humorous and "friendly" way you presented this. Iambic meter is, indeed, very necessary in so many poetic forms and is also a puzzlement to many writers. I am recommending your piece to several of them. Thanks. I do encourage you to write more of these. Short, sweet, funny, friendly and to the point. Hugs, Sue
Comment Written 13-Sep-2012
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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Thanks so much, Sue :-). I've explained meter several times over the last year or three, and I quite enjoy finding ways to describe it, so I thought this was worth doing. I know where I stand with iambic meter, so that made sense as a place to start. I'm thinking of deconstructing a sonnet at some point, with reference to this for the meter aspect.
So glad you liked it! Also, glad it made sense :-).
Mike
Comment from rama devi
Outstanding (hope I have a six). I will book mark this to offer as reference when reviewing people's sonnets with lots of scansion off. You're a gifted teacher, Mike, but that does not surprise me. Excellent examples and articulate instructions. THe word Bastard as a prime example might offend some, though, you rascal! *wink*
One tiny suggestion:
Poetry straddles all things;(:) culture, creed, time, even imperial and metric.
Oh no! It won't let me give you six, but here is a virtual one;
******
Love,
rd
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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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Outstanding (hope I have a six). I will book mark this to offer as reference when reviewing people's sonnets with lots of scansion off. You're a gifted teacher, Mike, but that does not surprise me. Excellent examples and articulate instructions. THe word Bastard as a prime example might offend some, though, you rascal! *wink*
One tiny suggestion:
Poetry straddles all things;(:) culture, creed, time, even imperial and metric.
Oh no! It won't let me give you six, but here is a virtual one;
******
Love,
rd
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 13-Sep-2012
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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I'll take that virtual six with grateful thanks, RD :-). I've spent a while fiddling with this to make it accurate - I didn't want to post something like this, on this site, with errors!
Thanks for the edit - I'd already changed it after Brooke pointed it out. It's great to know neither of you saw any other nits.
I'm all chuffed, now :-).
Mike
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Yipeee!! ;-))
Comment from adewpearl
Poetry straddles all things; - make that a colon instead of a semicolon
You explain meter clearly and with an engaging narrative voice
good use of illustrative examples to make this easy to follow
Brooke :-)
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reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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Poetry straddles all things; - make that a colon instead of a semicolon
You explain meter clearly and with an engaging narrative voice
good use of illustrative examples to make this easy to follow
Brooke :-)
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The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 13-Sep-2012
reply by the author on 13-Sep-2012
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Thank you, Brooke :-). A timely edit, there. I've found myself explaining meter in detail several times in the last couple of years, and it's something I enjoy doing. I thought it made sense to capture that in one place.
Mike
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This is what I teach in my poetry courses - you would be amazed how many people do not hear the stresses :-)