Meter -

I was wondering, did PnQ ever had anyone who used meter?

and what happen to Meter on this site? Just curiosity.

Yes, a friend if mine, who goes by the name of Kiko on here. I have used it too in some of my poems, but it's difficult because English is not my native language.

I thought you meant the Screen name "Meter"

I use meter frequently in both formed poetry and in free verse.

Did you have something specific in mind?

Really? I never noticed it. I guess that's what happened to meter, it goes unnoticed.

What I had in mind is how would anyone know what of meter to choose for their poems?

Iambic is the popular but there are more.

Meter just comes naturally...well you may have a slightly different number in each line but....why bother about it...it's not something I consider when I write...< neither are these or..:-< those haha!!!

Haha hellon, it comes naturally for those who know how to write with it. But for those who are learning is a pain in the heart, specially if English is not our first language.

so if the stress is not given where it should then it messes the flow.

but if one is just counting syllables and there is an extra one, true why bother about it. But if one is using meter then it is important to maintain it else the poem might have a rocky flow...

I believe its kinda like writing something for a song. If the beats, syllables arent equal, youll end up like rushing towards the next line or word or something like that. Itll sounds silly, lol.

Unless you're Bob Dylan who has a way of getting away with it.

When you want to just be within loose bounds a simple syllable count should be enough. If you have a form that requires a specific meter, you can use my visual aid: syllabic emphasis for the stress.

whenEVer TEN MEN come to SHORE

Meter quite honestly has always totally confused me. I dont typically read or intend to write with stressed syllables.. so its hard to grasp for me I guess.

^^^^

That's probably what I SHOULD have said Britt and not the arrogant sounding statement I DID make!

I thought we were just talking about the length of each sentence when I said it comes naturally...I don't check the syllable count for example...it just sounds right to my ear I guess. I also have no conscious knowledge as to whether I'm using stressed or unstressed sounds....wouldn't have a clue to be honest :) I also don't think I'm concious of other's doing it when I read poems by other members.

Thats why I line break when I do.. either when I take a breath while reading or if I notice it getting a little uneven with the rest of the poem, lol.

I think that if you have lines longer (thus having more syllables in one line than the other) it ruins the flow of the poem.

Is meter different than syllables? How ignorant do I sound lol

Don't feel too bad bout that "ignorant" question there Britt. Youre not alone there. Lets just say you kinda saved me from asking it first, lol.

... And yes, sir Larry, Bob always gets away with it, more like Joni Mitchell too.

Well yeah, meter is the sound in the poem... the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.

i don't know how to explain as I am barely learning about it, but depending on where the stress goes.. the poem might read like a melody or it will have a good flow if it's done correctly or it might look more elegant.

and counting syllables doesn't always relies on where the stress is given, it might just be counting but it isn't really meter, though its a first step.

There are I think 6 type of styles.

iambic - unstressed and stress
Trochaic- stress and unstressed
Spondee- stressed and stressed
Anapest - Unstressed + Unstressed + Stressed
Dactylic- Stressed + Unstressed + Unstressed
Amphibrachic - Unstressed + Stressed+ Unstressed
Pyrrhic - Unstressed + Unstressed

The sonnets are supposed to be written in iambic.

like "shall I compare thee to a summer's day" by William Shakespeare.

Unless I'm purposefully writing something like a sonnet, I don't really think about meter, explicitly.

I DO think it makes its way into most of my poems, however. Though I don't do a lot of rhyme, I like my poems to have a natural rhythm to them. I like to have control over the pacing, and I think that comes down to meter, in a lot of cases.

Luce you missed one

the meter I use most of all and is the easiest..
It doesn't require too much attention to 'stressed and unstressed' (i couldn't tell the difference anyway)

It is my favourite meter and I call it

'Rambling'

Haha Darren

That's the one I use for the majority of my poems.
But unfortunately that's not meter.