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The best syllable counter? - Darren White's Blog

About Darren White
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I am Darren, 22 years old. I write poetry in English, which is not my native tongue, not even my second language, but my third. Which is why you most probably will find a lot of crimes against grammar and spelling. Bear with me.


I can write in all sorts of conventional rhyme, but I prefer free verse. A few of my poems in Dutch have been published in an anthology. One of my English poems has been published in the "Love is Love" anthology for the (family of) victims of the Pulse-shooting in Orlando. I have recently (2018) published my first poetry collection "Intrinsic Brightness", availablde on Amazon.


I have translated Arabic poetry into English for Poetry Festivals. I like being Houdini, chained to the original poem and its conventions, yet freeing myself to deliver the best possible poem. I love it.

Darren.


The best syllable counter?

Blog Posted:11/17/2016 11:35:00 PM

I am at a complete loss...

Which syllable counter in the whole wide woild is the best? I want to have a good chance at placement in certain contests, but what if all syllable counters out there tell me different stories (and they do!)???

So... What one do you all use? What would you recommend me? Thanks!!



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Date: 11/19/2016 8:11:00 AM
I agree both with Andrea and the Seeker:) there's no perfect syllable counter, for example- the word 'miscreant' has 3 syllables according to howmanysyllables.com, but if the word is 'miscreants', the same counter shows it as 2, now how can one explain that??
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Darren White
Date: 11/19/2016 11:51:00 AM
I totally agree it is ridiculous... I am happy with your replies, makes me a little more sure of myself :) <3
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Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/19/2016 10:28:00 AM
It is so ridiculous , isn't it?
Date: 11/18/2016 4:57:00 PM
I agree with Seeker, Darren. It is a very natural thing to count syllables. There are always little situations in which a person from one English speaking region will use an extra syllable than another person, but a judge with compassion and intelligence should be able to realize this. There is no one perfect syllable counter. Especially not the one provided us by Soup!! If a judge thinks it is so important, they need to provide the syllable counter's name that they want people to abide by. (also in my opinion, meter is more important than number of syllables. If it sounds well metered, that is what matters).
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Darren White
Date: 11/19/2016 12:02:00 AM
Thank you Andrea. Yes, I am planning to do that in the future. I am used to translate and analyse Arabic poetry, and that is very strongly driven by both meter AND number of syllables. That's why I am sometimes uncertain how to approach the syllable vs meter thing in English. Thanks for the reply :)
Date: 11/18/2016 3:00:00 AM
One of the problems Darren is that many dialect variation of the English language can vary slightly in regard to prouniciation of certain words .This will sometimes cause difficulty in syllable count contests.Most sponsors would allow for that.My advice is to concentrate on the poetry itself ,its euphony and cadence as these are the key to our artform.Best wishes with your creative endeavours.
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Darren White
Date: 11/18/2016 8:11:00 AM
Yes Brian, that is indeed a big problem. One of my other problems is that I am not a native speaker, so sometimes I guess it wrong. But I chose in the endto use common sense, gut feeling, and I checked with Jan's suggestion. Thank you for the help :)
Date: 11/18/2016 1:50:00 AM
I use 'how many syllables' as I find it the most accurate BUT there are discrepancies between that one and the poetry soup counter - such as 'couldn't' and 'wouldn't' which on show 1 syllable on one counter and 2 on the other! I write on my poem checked with 'how many syllables' for poems that require a strict syllable count so the sponsor can see it is accurate and hopefully not mark a person down. hope this helps:-) hugs Jan xx
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Darren White
Date: 11/18/2016 2:31:00 AM
Thank Jan. That is actually very helpful :)

My Past Blog Posts

 
Disappearing poem
Date Posted: 1/16/2017 6:20:00 AM
Writing competitions
Date Posted: 1/15/2017 2:06:00 AM
Soup website problem
Date Posted: 12/15/2016 11:27:00 PM
Birthdays
Date Posted: 12/9/2016 5:59:00 AM
Thank you, Anonymous
Date Posted: 11/24/2016 12:58:00 PM
The best syllable counter?
Date Posted: 11/17/2016 11:35:00 PM

My Recent Poems

Date PostedPoemTitleFormCategories
1/24/2019 Goodbye Free verseanger,
1/1/2019 Christmas Dinner Rhymechristmas,funny,
10/26/2018 The Half Man Free versefriendship,friendship lov
10/18/2018 Firefighter Free versefire,metaphor,tree,
9/29/2018 One For the Road Free versedrink,music,
9/13/2018 A Stormy Play Free versenature,storm,
8/9/2018 Fading Free versememory,remember,
7/27/2018 Perception Free versepoetry,write,
4/30/2018 Brother Dramatic Monologuebrother,friend,winter,
3/27/2018 Disclaimer Free versefreedom,
2/20/2018 Where Angels Roam - Collaboration With White Wolf Sonnetangel,dream,
1/24/2018 Mon Chevalier Free versefriendship,love,
1/12/2018 Captured Free versecourage,dream,inspiration
1/8/2018 In Life Free versedeath,life,
12/12/2017 Coma Free verseemotions,feelings,memory,
12/3/2017 Elements - Collaboration With White Wolf Free verseinspiration,
12/3/2017 Autumn Storm - Collaboration With Chris Green Free verseautumn,storm,
12/2/2017 White Sheet of Illusion Free verseinspirational,writing,
11/24/2017 Little Proton Free verseemotions,inspirational,sm
11/22/2017 Fragile Heart Free verseself,sick,
11/4/2017 Not a Poem Free versewords,
11/2/2017 A Wonderful Day - Collaboration With Chris Green Rhymeboat,boy,child,fun,
11/2/2017 A Wish Rhymeinspirational,night,star,
10/23/2017 Bring Me To Light Free verselonging,love,men,
10/16/2017 Early Snow - Collaboration With Chris Green Free versefun,love,snow,
10/15/2017 Day's End Free versebeach,nature,sea,
10/15/2017 What Keeps Us Awake Free verseappreciation,friendship,i
10/12/2017 What Child Is This Free versechildhood,sad,
10/10/2017 I Miss You Rhymeabsence,feelings,friendsh
10/6/2017 Honey Free verseinspirational,words,
10/4/2017 Pulse Free versebetrayal,body,
10/2/2017 Together Rhymehappy,love,together,
10/1/2017 Watan - Homeland Enclosed Rhymebeautiful,home,longing,
9/30/2017 Retired Rhymedance,
9/30/2017 I Know You - Collaboration With Chris Green Prose Poetrybeautiful,dance,love,
9/27/2017 Strange Images Free verseself,sick,
9/22/2017 Those Words Free verseinspirational,metaphor,wo
9/21/2017 Clumsy Free verselonging,metaphor,work,
9/19/2017 Fulfilling Life - Collaboration With White Wolf Free verseflying,inspiration,love,m
9/17/2017 Dark Loss Free versedark,metaphor,sick,
9/14/2017 Mobius Strip Free versedream,metaphor,
9/10/2017 Nothing Fancy - Collaboration With Chris Green Free verselove,sweet,
9/10/2017 An Exercise Free versemetaphor,
9/10/2017 I Write Free versemental illness,poetry,wor
9/3/2017 Elm and Ivy - With White Wolf Rhymeallegory,metaphor,mytholo
9/1/2017 I Know Rhymefunny,me,sick,
8/26/2017 Life Unpainted - Collaboration With Chris Green Quatrainanalogy,art,metaphor,sad,
8/23/2017 As Evening Approached - Collaboration With White Wolf Rhymeinspirational,
8/22/2017 Vortices Free verselove,lust,metaphor,ocean,
8/21/2017 Amsterdam Free versecity,metaphor,
8/18/2017 Truth - Collaboration With Chris Green Quatrainfriendship,truth,
8/18/2017 Emptiness Free verseemotions,loneliness,words
8/17/2017 This Little Light Free verselight,lonely,metaphor,
8/16/2017 Of Kings and Kids - Collaboration With White Wolf Free versebooks,childhood,nature,
8/12/2017 Schism Free versedark,metaphor,
8/11/2017 Kittens and Butterflies - Collaboration With Chris Green Enclosed Rhymecat,sleep,sun,
8/10/2017 Too Hard To Breathe Free versememory,metaphor,remember,
8/8/2017 Adrift Free versecourage,immigration,
8/7/2017 Sunset Free versemetaphor,moon,sun,sunset,
8/6/2017 Dig It - Collaboration With Chris Green Rhymedance,fun,
8/6/2017 I Sleep In Cold Free versemetaphor,winter,
8/5/2017 How To Write a Love Poem Free verselove,poetry,words,
8/5/2017 Black Dog - Collaboration With White Wolf Rhymeanimal,feelings,
8/5/2017 This Little Screen Free versefriendship,internet,
8/4/2017 Prisoner of Words Free versemetaphor,poetry,words,
8/3/2017 And a Last One To Forget - Collaboration With Chris Green Free versedrink,music,
8/3/2017 I Miss You Free versemetaphor,poetry,words,
7/27/2017 Where Birds Fly Free verseanger,metaphor,poetry,wor
7/26/2017 Rainbow Wheels - Collaboration With Chris Green Free versefriendship,strength,
7/26/2017 Prisoners Free versefreedom,metaphor,
7/24/2017 To Be One Free verseself,
7/23/2017 Sticks and Stones - Collaboration With Chris Green Free verseanti bullying,bullying,me
7/23/2017 Dance With Demons Free versedance,music,
7/22/2017 Let Me In Free verseallusion,metaphor,
7/21/2017 Solitude of Grass Free verselife,loneliness,
7/20/2017 I Wait For You Free versenight,ocean,sea,
7/20/2017 The Sound of Seven Free versecolor,sound,
7/19/2017 Outside My Window - Collaboration With Chris Green Rhymebeauty,nature,tree,
7/18/2017 Impaired Free verseconflict,fear,
7/17/2017 Egypt Free verseculture,sad,
7/14/2017 The Magic of the Oak -Part 4- Collaboration With Chris Green Rhymefairy,fantasy,
7/13/2017 The Magic of the Oak -Part 3- Collaboration With Chris Green Rhymefairy,fantasy,
7/12/2017 The Midnight Hour - With Lisa Ricci Free versefriendship,love,
7/12/2017 Art This Is For You Free versefeelings,friendship,love,
7/12/2017 Pas De Deux Free verseart,dance,love,
7/12/2017 The Magic of the Oak -Part 2- Collaboration With Chris Green Rhymefairy,fantasy,
7/11/2017 The Magic of the Oak -Part 1- Collaboration With Chris Green Rhymefairy,fantasy,
7/11/2017 Then It Will End Free versedeath,life,
7/9/2017 A Pair of Shoes Free versemetaphor,simile,
7/8/2017 New Beginnings Free verselife,lost,moving on,
7/6/2017 A Dance For Life - Collaboration With Lisa Ricci Free versedance,life,music,
7/6/2017 Collaboration Contest Free verseart,love,sea,
7/6/2017 Ramblings Between Friends - Budgie and I Free versefriendship,inspirational,
7/4/2017 Interaction Free verseenvironment,relationship,
7/3/2017 Lingering Images - Collaboration With Chris Green Quatrainemotions,feelings,love,
7/3/2017 For Who Gives Rhymeappreciation,giving,smile
7/2/2017 I Still Remember Free verseloss,memory,metaphor,
7/2/2017 What Poetry Is Free verseimagery,poetry,words,
6/30/2017 Where Did It Go Free versepoetry,voice,words,
6/29/2017 For You - With Chris Green Free versebeautiful,inspirational,l

My Photos


Fav Poems

PoemTitleFormCategories
Farewell My Love Fibonacciheartbreak,
Precious Friendship Rhymefriendship,
Blow Sweet Breeze Free verseautumn,love,nature,
Homeward Bound Lyricbreak up,heartbreak,
Rare Are We Free verselove,
Shine Prose Poetrychild,
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The Table's Set Rhymeheartbreak,hope,
I Can See Clearly - For Now Diamantesenses,
Leonard Cohen Was Right Epicpoetry,
All Change Coupletchange,humorous,relations
Covering What Remains Free verselife,
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The Smile You Share Monorhymemorning,
Kiss Me Coupletkiss,love,
Two Rivers Versearabic,confusion,hope,
Exclusive Birth Rights Free versehumanity,,memorial,
Night of Dreams Blitzlove,romantic,valentines
Costly Reprieve Rhymeabuse,addiction,depressio
The Park Bench Free verseart,beauty,inspirational,
I Don'T Know Why I Love You Rhymesong,
Angelic Tendrils Free versefor him,love,men,
Rowntree Park Free verseallegory,baseball,
Playing Human Free versehumanity,humorous,life,pr
Broken Nevermore Rhymebutterfly,
Broken People Free versepeople,
Chimney Swift Free verseappreciation,bird,psychol
No Translation Needed Free versebetrayal,
Just Chris Rhymefriendship,life,
Destiny: Rhymeanalogy,destiny,
her journal - Rhymelove,love hurts,metaphor,
A Goodbye Kiss Free verseautumn,kiss,
Reflections Free verseintrospection,relationshi
In Another Time Rhymelife,
Summer Personificationlove,summer,
A Winter's Tale Free verseanimal,snow,winter,
- of Similarities - Monokubest friend,cool,giggle,h
My Sister Says Free verseabsence,addiction,anger,b
Friendship Bound Free versefriendship,
Man and Boy Can and Can'T Fable Rhymechildhood,children,feelin
Beauty of You Free versebeauty,love,,western,
An Angel Whispers In My Ear Rhymeangel,love,
Pointing Back Free verselost love,sad,
Of All I'Ve Lost Rhymehome,
She Knows Free versedestiny,sad,
The Locket Rhymeage,love,,cute,
Trinity's Eyes Rhymechild,dedication,family,t
This Poem Is For You Rhymegood morning,
A Slow Hand, Deep Thoughts and True Pen Rhymeart,creation,life,poetry,
The Essence of Hurt Rhymeangst,betrayal,emotions,f
A Fool's Valentine Shapeangst,
Kiss Goodbye Lyricgoodbye,i love you,kiss,
Slow Hand Free verselove,sensual,
I Love You, Old Man Rhymeage,dad,emotions,grandchi
King Arthur - a Collaboration With Darren White Coupletart,friend,friendship,
Daydream Dancing Free verseart,dance,dream,
Like You Free verseart,life,love,
Saint of Lust Rhymedark,night,sensual,
Me and the Bee: Rhymedeath,
Peace Slips Lightly Free verseautumn,beauty,change,peac
Ode To the Little One Free verseangel,strength,tribute,
Your Man Free versegood night,
Lake Vaso Lanterneart,french,imagination,lo
Refund, Please Quatrainage,childhood,old,wisdom,
Through the Hourglass: Rhymeanalogy,space,time,
Poems Free verseinspiration,poems,poetry,
I Didn'T Answer, I Didn'T Need To Free verselove,
A Cathartic Weave of Three Free versebreak up,celebration,devo
Old Age Monokuage,old,youth,
Airbrushed and Abused Free verseintrospection,
Bloody Feet Upon the Slab Rhymeaddiction,life,truth,
My Angel of the Waters Rhymegood night,
A Peaceful Smile Free verselove,
tell the night to hold me - Lyricforgiveness,heartbreak,he
Flirting With Free Verse Free versefunny,humor,humorous,poem
I Am More Dramatic Monologuepoetry,
I Didn'T Know Free verselonging,love,
Lovely Suppositions Sonnetlost love,love,lust,
There Is Still Beauty Quatraindark,friendship,hope,sad,
Musing Monokuheart,
Poetry Soap Coupletabuse,conflict,jealousy,l
A Christmas Carol Free versechild,childhood,christmas
Makes the Perfect Christmas Gift Free versechristmas,humor,love,
Shadow of Death Free verseangst,destiny,introspecti
Peter Pan Quatrainromantic,
Haiku - 8 Haikuchildren,snow,
Angels Sonnetangel,
A Shining Star Rhymefriendship,light,
Pandora's Temptation Dramatic Versedesire,hope,love,
If I Were An Elephant Verseafrica,animal,dream,
Duplex Versevolleyball,
The Little One Is Three Free verseabsence,art,beauty,birthd
Between the Words of My Father Free versefarewell,father son,
Hot Grey Matter Free verseinspiration,lust,sexy,
Covered Silence Free versecharacter,confusion,depre
Tongue Twister Time Rhymehumor,
Lovely Things For Darren Light Versefriendship,
Blade So Blue Quintain (English)innocence,
Nothing More Than a Pretty Smile - Repost Free verseadventure,fantasy,imagina
Salvation Seeps In the Mist Free verseadventure,fantasy,imagina

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Seren Roberts United Kingdom Flag United Kingdom Read
Maureen Mcgreavy Canada Flag Canada Read
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Book: Reflection on the Important Things