Bloodstone

Jan 20, 2012

This poem is part of the workshop:

More Meter

(Read More...)

Description:

Leader: Jess (weirdelf)
Moderator(s): Beauregard, Geezer, Wesley Snow

Objectives: To get meter inside our heads and make it easy.

Level of expertise: Open to all

Subject matter:
More Meter

In the last meter workshop we compared iambic meter with trochaic and had a quick look at anapaestic. This time we will start with a discussion on meter and each participant's experience/knowledge of it. The workshop activities will be tailored to each persons needs and development.

Only two things are not open to argument. We will use classic meter terminology, it is not hard and it is useful. And critique of each others submissions are considered as important as your own submissions.

OK, to get the ball rolling I will give the briefest possible description I can of meter.

Meter is the rhythm of poetry as determined by the way words are pronounced normally in English, this does allow for regional and dialect variations. Meter is not about counting syllables, it is about counting Feet. A foot is two or three syllables of which one is stressed. The repetition of feet creates meter. The number of feet per line defines the metric form.

The most common forms of feet are Iambic, Anapestic, Trochaic And Dactylic and we will discuss them all.

The number of feet per line are named with Greek numeric prefixes (monometer, dimeter, etc.). We will go up to five feet per line (pentameter).

Just about everyone has heard of Iambic Pentameter. It has been popular since Shakespeare and Chaucer. Iambic Pentameter is a line of five iambs
da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM da DUM

To join please PM me or Beauregard

Enough for now. Let's talk! In the following discussion important points about content and style will be raised. Contribute your thoughts, ideas and questions.

FIRST ACTIVITIES.

For those who have never consciously written in meter before-

Write up to 14 lines of Iambic Pentameter.
Do NOT rhyme.
Choose a topic that is not emotional, personal or profound, merely descriptive. This will free up your word choice.

For those who have consciously written in meter before-

Write up to 14 lines of Trochaic Pentameter.
Do NOT rhyme.
Allow variations including Dactylic and strong and weak lines.
Choose a topic that is not emotional, personal or profound, merely descriptive. This will free up your word choice.

From the Toolbar click Workshop>Submit a poem.

Copy or type in your poem. Scroll to the bottom of the screen and above the Preview button you will see a Workshop droplist. Click this and select More Meter. Then preview and save as normal.

PLEASE READ THE SYLLABUS, THE DISCUSSION AND ALL MESSAGES CAREFULLY

This workshop is closed.

Wise Words (more meter workshop)

"Take care of hands and teeth,
your arse and your two feet."
wise words a man of old
relayed to me one day.

I asked of eyes and ears
and also asked of strength.
He answered, "Nay, just those
I mention defend these"

About This Poem

Last Few Words: I didn't want to rhyme:) This is a silly little poem. Inspired by my short journey into terry pratchet's discworld. (I appreciate his work, but I get bored of it) Years ago I read about 'the Hero' (I think he was called). An old chap who's wise words were to protect your teeth and your bum, what goes in and what comes out:D i just expanded on this philosophy a little over the years:P Have at it!

Review Request Intensity: I want the raw truth, feel free to knock me on my back

Editing Stage: Editing - rough draft

About the Author

Region, Country: South Africa, ZAF

Comments

Hello,

It looks like you have done an excellent job with iambic trimeter! At least, I don't see any mistakes. Good title and fun to boot!

always, Cat

hey there

Thank you Cat:) I appreciate it. Lol. It makes me chuckle a bit, because it's a thought I've held for so many years. I've been pondering about this workshop since its inception and of all the deep thoughts I've had, this silly little thing shon through.
Cheers

only one miscan

He replied, "Nay, just those

replied is stressed replied not replied

I want silly poems

To write meter is an exercise.
If you write a profound poem you get attached to the words.
This is bloody well done.
Kudos.

hehehehe

Cheers Jess! My initial thought process was a little too abstract to cope with this 'thing', quite new to me really. But I kept that mantra of simplicity for a few days, influenced by your guidelines.

Do you think it would work if I changed my incorrect 'replied' for 'answered'?

answered

would work

hello

I've heard replied spoken both ways so this could be either correct or not according to who reads it lol........stan

Actually,

The first line is a foot of anapest followed by two feet of trochee with one of them catalectic (but I'm just showing off).
You Bloodstone however, should have risked the second assignment. Iamb is obviously quite easy for you.
wesley

Thanks Wesley

Thanks Wesley
This was the first time I've concentrated on meter, (I have a vague memory of being introduced to meter at school, I apparently ignored that and held tight onto syllables and rhyme:P)
This is truely a new world for me... lots of learning ahead!

now, would you do me a favour and show me that first line, as you see it. I tried to deduce, but I don't see it.
thanks

Actually,

I can't. I must of been stoned, because for the life of me, I don't how I read anapest in the first line. Three iambs. See! I told you not to listen to me. I will agree with Mark that "defend" is accented on the second syllable. My original statement also stands that you should be doing the harder exercises. Of course that was also the same time I parsed your poem incorrectly, so remember I told you not to listen to me.

wesley

lolol :D

Oh, well. If we won them all, who'd we learn from?
Yeah...my mind is trying to defend that stress.. but darn it! I NEED A NEW WORD!! It's amazing how well it sounds in your head, and then.. hehe

I'll see about posting a trochaic, might take a while:P
Cheers
Jimbo