2. The rhythm of poetry is heartbeat of the poem. In fact its most popular metre, iambic, even sounds like the beat of a human heart. Given the stressed nature of English speech, it is very difficult for a poem in our language NOT to have a rhythm.
3. Poetry is built on words and words can be divided into syllables. Each syllable must consist of a vowel, usually surrounded by consonants as in con|so|nant. The word is then shaped by adding stress to one syllable, as in con´|so|nant.
4. Ninety percent of all two and three syllable words in English stress the first syllable. But the more syllables in the word, the longer the stress is delayed. So we have pho´|to|graph, pho|tog´|raph|y, pho|to|graph´|i|cal
5. Sixty-five percent of all verbs in English take their stress on the second syllable. This leads to some confusion with similar words. A con ´|vict (noun) is someone in jail. To con|vict´ (verb) means to judge someone as guilty.
6. This brings us to poetic rhythm. Poetry follows normal stress rules of English speech, but constrains them within a certain pattern in order to achieve a rhythmic effect.
7. The rhythmic forms are: i ambic (- /) t rochaic (/ -) a napestic (- - /) d actylic (/ - -) s pondaic (/ /) it ads up!
15. But most through mid night streets I hear How the youth ful har lot’s curse Blasts the new -born in fant’s tear , And blights with plagues the mar riage hearse .
18. O young Lochin var is come out of the west , Through all the wide Bor der his steed was the best ; And save his good broad sword he wea pons had none , He rode all un armed , and he rode all a lone . So faith ful in love , and so daunt less in war , There ne ver was knight like the young Lochin var .
19. He staid not for brake , and he stopped not for stone , He swam the Eske ri ver where ford there was none ; But ere he a ligh ted at Neth erby gate , The bride had con sen ted, the gal lant came late : For a lag gard in love , and a das tard in war , Was to wed the fair El len of brave Lochin var .
20. So bold ly he en tered the Neth erby Hall , Among brides -men, and kins men, and broth ers and all : Then spoke the bride's fath er, his hand on his sword , (For the poor craven bride groom said ne ver a word ,) "O come ye in peace here, or come ye in war , Or to dance at our bri dal, young Lord Lochin var ?"
21. "I long woo'd your daugh ter, my suit you de nied ; Love swells like the Sol way, but ebbs like its tide And now I am come , with this lost love of mine To lead but one mea sure, drink one cup of wine . There are mai dens in Scot land more love ly by far That would glad ly be bride to the young Lochin var ."
22. The bride kissed the gob let: the knight took it up , He quaffed off the wine , and he threw down the cup . She looked down to blush , and she looked up to sigh With a smile on her lips and a tear in her eye . He took her soft hand , ere her moth er could bar "Now tread we a mea sure!" said young Lochinvar .
23. So state ly his form , and so love ly her face , That ne ver a hall such a gail iard did grace ; While her moth er did fret , and her fath er did fume And the bride groom stood dan gling his bon net and plume ; And the bride -maidens whis pered, "'twere bet ter by far To have matched our fair cou sin with young Lochin var ."
24. One touch to her hand , and one word in her ear , When they reached the hall- door , and the char ger stood near ; So light to the croupe the fair la dy he swung , So light to the sad dle be fore her he sprung ! "She is won ! we are gone , over bank , bush, and scaur ; They'll have fleet steeds that fol low," quoth young Lochin var .
25. There was moun ting 'mong Graemes of the Neth erby clan ; Forsters, Fen wicks, and Mus graves, they rode and they ran : There was ra cing and cha sing on Can nobie Lee , But the lost bride of Neth erby ne'er did they see . So da ring in love , and so daunt less in war , Have ye e'er heard of gal lant like young Lochin var ?
42. Whose woods these are I think I know His house is in the vil lage, though He will not see me stop ping here To see his woods fill up with snow Iambic
43. With the sheep in the fold and the cows in their stalls . Anapestic
44. Rings on her fin gers and bells on her toes , She shall have mu sic wher ev er she goes . Dactylic
45. Just for a hand ful of sil ver he left us, Just for a rib bon to stick in his coat . Dactylic
46. The out look was n't bril liant for the Mud ville nine that day ; The score stood four to two , with but one in ning more to play , Iambic
47. The sunlight shames November where he grieves In dead red leaves , and will not let him shun The day, though bough with bough be overrun. Spondaic
49. Compose a poem that begins with the following line. It is to be in the same iambic rhythm. Try to keep the lines to a regular length. This one has four metrical feet, so aim for that. Alternatively you might do four feet in one line and three in the next. Ready? Here’s your line…
