Alaeha Posted July 19, 2003 Report Posted July 19, 2003 As was requested, this one involves differing syllable counts... Which I work in without even intending to most of the time. I know of no real name for this, but here you go... Choose a meter that you like. In my case, a slightly tweaked Anapestic Tetrameter. Then write a few (two or three, at least) quatrains (ABAB pattern) with the B lines being one foot shorter. That is, two syllables less if you're writing in Iambic or Trochaic meter, or three less if writing in Anapestic or Dactyllic. So my A lines would have four feet and my B lines would have three. If you're writing entirely in Spondees, you have my respect... and you don't need this. Example: You said that you loved me with all of your heart, with your mind, with your being. You said that you'd never hurt me. And so, from the start I believed. I was greatly misled. I would never have hurt you. You knew that, and yet you cooled off, as I feared that you would. "You could do much better than me" you don't get it. You're wrong. I deserve nothing good. I hope this helps those who have a hard time writing with an inflexible meter... These have been helping me... Writing helps to get stuff out of your system.
Peredhil Posted August 4, 2003 Report Posted August 4, 2003 (a translation of terms (of sorts (you may need a translation of the translation!))) I simply haven't a single clue On what, when, or how to write I really don't know what to do As through Latin feet I fight This meter thing just seems so wrong I'm not with what's goin' down Each time I find before too long My face's plastered with a frown.
Ayshela Posted August 4, 2003 Report Posted August 4, 2003 i threw a grappling hook to find it simply slid away across the surface of my mind where thoughts refuse to stay i leaned a ladder up to climb across the smooth high wall the ladder slid before i'd time to make it far at all this surface is far higher now and smoother than a rock is dynamite the best way how to break a mental block?
Salinye Posted July 26, 2004 Report Posted July 26, 2004 Okay, Alaeha! I found two of your previous poetry exercises that i had missed and not done! So, I gave this one a try! I'm not sure it's right, but it was fun. I tried only three lines per stanza with an AC rhyme. Then I stuck the line with the shorter foot in the middle. Does it work? If feels a bit choppy to me. Mother Earth hiccupped thoughtlessly A tiny village was Shaken and swept into the sea She twirled a finger through her hair Sadly, that twister’s rage Caught that southern town unaware In her sorrow, she cried great tears That raging water would Flood the villa for many years Oh mother Earth, though we deserve Your contempt and swift ire Please us, forgive-Please us, preserve
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