The pyrrhic/spondee substitution

[milo]

I was reading Frost today (followed someone to the thread) and marveling over reading a true master in his use of meter.  One of the techniques he leans on heavily is the pyrrhic/spondee substitution.  Now metrically, pyrrhic isn't even really a foot that is used in crafting poetry.  It is 2 consecutive unstressed syllables.  It is almost always used to describe what is happening here:  --'' dadaDUMDUM.  One of the odd qualities of the pyrrhic spondee sub is that it feels and sounds GREAT when reading, unlike most substitutions in metric poetry, it feels deliberate and musical.  It also has the effect of racing to a strong emphasis.

Why is this so useful?  There are a lot of great words we want to use in metric poetry (abacus came to mind recently).  Can't do that, someone might say, not in my sonnet.

Enter the wonderful pyhhric/spondee substitution:

I think I need an abacus post haste  (not a great line, only for demonstration)

daDUM daDUM daDUM dada DUMDUM

perfect.  Here are some examples from Frost:

" I feel the ladder sway as the boughs bend." - end
" Of the great harvest I myself desired." - beginning

There are many more.

pshaw - I hear you say, I don't bother myself with old fashioned rhyme and meter.

That's ok, you can get many of the delightful effects even in your "natural rhythm" free verse poems.

I used it a few times (perhaps a few times too many) in a free verse poem I posted here very recently.

Go ahead, give it a try