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Haibun Look Poetry Contest

Before we look at iambic meter you must understand syllables, how they are used to break down words into separate sounds, an example, 'un/der/stand; a  three syllable word. The latter, (word), is a single syllable one. Iambic meter uses 2 syllables, the first unstressed the second stressed. Together they are called a foot. Now if your feet are not suffering we have 5 foot to go. Iambic pentameter, a line 10 syllables long or 5 feet with the rhythm de//dah
/ de//dah / de//dah / de//dah /
de//dah. the bold dah being the stressed syllable. Of all the metered forms, (there are a few). The one discussed here is the form most commonly used by English poets, its said to follow our speech pattern. The rhythm is, (if writing in iambic meter), a must. A point I have not made clear is in 2 syllable words the second syllable is the one stressed! As for 4 syllable words, it is the second and forth. For 3 syllable words go see the poet Doctor,  joking aside I try to make it the middle one, seriously I try to avoid them, for me, they are hard work! An example of iambic pentameter from William Shakespear's Sonnet XVII: Shall I compare  thee  to a sumers day? Just the first line, again the bold text represents the stressed syllable. The whole sonnet has the rhyme pattern ababcdcdefefgg. If you have read this far then you too must have fun writing, composing poetry, I do, I find it therapeutic, hope it helps to you too. 

Pentameter, two syllables equal one foot, ten equal, 
five, seems to stress some folk when the
stress should only be on the last sequel
of two words like this you can see
applied to alldouble syllabe words like treacle,
here the stress in bold text made easy,
the third line up in iambic meter sequel,
of four iambic feet, iambic tetrameter, da de,
da de, da de da de, the cycle,
triple syllable words, heed, yes, choose very carefully

Edited 7/8/18 - 24:27.30hrs

READS LIKE MUSIC - haibun look Poetry Contest, sponsored by Line Gauthier

7/8/18

Copyright © Mick Talbot | Year Posted 2018

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Lyric Man Date: 7/8/2018 1:00:00 PM Hey Mick.. I really enjoyed reading your poetry today. Thank you so much for posting your creative write! Have a great Sunday afternoon my friend! Login to Reply Mick Talbot Date: 7/9/2018 6:14:00 AM Thanks L.M. would have been better if Hamilton had won the UK F1, and the cheat disqualified. Many thanks for your kind words, Mick

Jan Allison Date: 7/8/2018 3:45:00 AM I've got to admit it's all Greek to me and I struggle with Iambic pentameter especially after I was bullied in my early days for my simple style , seriously Mick thanks for an informative haibun. Good luck in the contest:-) hugs Jan xx Login to Reply Mick Talbot Date: 7/9/2018 6:10:00 AM Get away with you! Betting you'd do a fantastic iambic pentameter! Many thanks for your wishes, hugs Mick