08-30-2011, 03:33 AM
YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST post here--and ask questions! There are some v good people, and a big mixture.
I had meant to add that much is lost by not knowing how a person speaks: there are numerous accents here in the UK (some incomprehensible!) and similarly, as you know, in the US. A particular person will have a different lilt from his neighbour-- so, often, when I read, I hear no rhythm, where there really is some. There is some audio poetry on here you may find interesting.
Meter is to do with stress.
De DA de DA de DA de DA de DA is an example. De DA is called iambic. Each de DA is a foot. So because there are five feet (De DA) in my example here, that is called iambic pentameter. I use it because it seems to come naturally to English speakers, and it was what Shakespeare used like this:
You BLOCKS you STONES you WORSE than SENSEless THINGS
There are many other types of meter (including DA de), and you can have as many 'feet' as you wish.
I fear that if I begin with my idea of free verse, I will do more to confuse than enlighten.
PS If you look n the 'Miscellaneous poetry' threads you ill see one dealing specifically with meter, and another giving more of Leanne's wise insights. They are well worth reading. Really!