Poetic meter is not just a summation of syllable count.  Meter is the  rhythm that gives poetry its lyrical element.   A poem that is written with a rhyme scheme, but still sounds “forced” is most likely not in proper meter – Conversely, a poem that “sings” to you will most likely be written with both rhyme and meter intact.

How do we know where to begin?  How do we know a poem is written in proper meter? Here’s a brief explanation. There are two elements to poetic meter – the number of “feet” per line, and the pattern of stressed syllables (ergo the fixation on syllable count).

Let’s start with the pattern of stressed syllables – It’s much more than just counting to make sure you have an equal number on each line. The patterns are:

• iambic – (short/long) – (e.g. – re-PLY’)
• trochaic – (long/short) – (e.g. – REA’-son)
• anapestic – (short/short/long) – (e.g. – in-ter-FERE’)
• dactylic – (long/short/short) – (e.g. – SYL’-la-ble)
• spondaic – (long/long) – (e.g. – HEART’BEAT’)
• pyrrhic – (short/short) – (e.g. – darned if I know, this one’s tough)

So, combine a rhythm of iambic, trochaic, or the like – with a specified number of “feet” (repetitions of stressed pattern) and you have a poetic rhapsody.

• monometer – One foot per line – (e.g. – “Be-HOLD!” – iambic monometer)
• dimeter – Two feet per line – (e.g. – “Re-FLEC-tions FOUND” – iambic dimeter)
• trimeter -Three feet per line – (e.g. – “Yes, it AL-ways takes TWO side by SIDE” – anapestic trimeter)
• tetrameter – Four feet per line – (e.g. – “TWIN-kle, TWIN-kle, LIT-tle STAR” – trochaic tetrameter)  one syllable shy, btw
• pentameter – Five feet per line – (e.g. – “Our VI-sion NOW be-STOWS the BLIND with SIGHT”  (iambic pentameter – This format is used for any properly written sonnet along with a specified rhyme scheme in 14 line format)
• hexameter – six feet
• heptameter – seven feet
• octameter – eight fee

Does that clarify at all?  Feel free to leave a questioning comment and we’ll work it out together.  Now, go write a poem!