Jeanette Swan Poet Double Dactyl

Dactyls and Elephants

Dactyls are metrical
Feet that are named after
Fingers with three little
Parts like the knuckles that
Lie in a pattern of
Stress like these sentences:

'Jealously murmuring
Elephants quietly
Sob in their handkerchiefs.'

Feet that are fingers -
How odd!

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Jerrold Prothero January 19, 2026 at 2:34 PM Very nicely done! I have been thinking about metrical variation lately, but haven't mastered the art. Jeanette Swan January 20, 2026 at 2:47 AM Thanks Jerrold. There are lists of words that are dactyls, anapest etc online. J :)

Kim Rodrigues November 1, 2024 at 11:16 AM LOL…feet that are fingers, how odd! As odd as elephants sobbing in handkerchiefs.

Jeff Kyser October 31, 2024 at 7:29 PM Fun stuff, Jeanette! Jeanette Swan October 31, 2024 at 7:31 PM Thanks for reading and commenting. It tickled my funnybone that a foot was named after a finger. J :)