Adding Reply Archived Topic: It will not be bumped to the top of the forum. Topic Meter... Membername   Not a member? Sign Up Free (takes 20 seconds) Password   Forgotten your password? Post Font: Verdana Arial Black Georgia Comic Sans Impact   Size: Tiny Normal Big Huge   Color: Default Dark Red Red Orange Brown Green Olive Cyan Blue Dark Blue Indigo Black [ Check Spelling ] [ Post Preview ] [ LiveTags ] FAQ Keyword Search: Post Options Favorites Manager Notify me of new replies to this topic by email Notify me of new replies to this topic by private message Original Post GeneCosta Posted at 9:49 am on Jan. 1, 2009 So, does anyone here write their poems with meter in mind? I'm not one of those "elitist" pricks who thinks poetry without meter isn't poetry at all, but a lot of the submissions here do fit the "teenage emo" category.

Replies GeneCosta Posted at 8:00 pm on Jan. 2, 2009 Meter is the method from which most of poetry originated. It's based in a language's stress. English is fickle because we're a hodge-podge of Germanic languages and French - most other languages have an easier way to recognize the stress. In poetry with meter, you cannot deviate (much) from a pattern. This formula "strengthens" the voice. For example, Shakespeare wrote all of his works in near-perfect meter. That's partially what makes him great. Writing in meter is laborious, and not until the 19th century did poets truly leave it for less formulaic works. Take the following line. It's one of Shakespeare's famous lines. I'm going to capitalize the stressed syllables:   ...a HORSE, a HORSE! my KINGdom FOR a HORSE!... The problem with teenage poets is that they don't even acknowledge meter. Even a poet who doesn't confine his/her poems to meter should first understand and be capable of keeping the human ear pacified, otherwise your voice tends to end up like crap. That's partially why "emo poetry" is looked down upon - the authors don't know shit about meter. That, and they also don't invoke any emotions. It's just ranting. Kaijuu Posted at 10:00 am on Jan. 1, 2009 whats a meter? HuffleHaire Posted at 9:59 am on Jan. 1, 2009 Sometimes, not always Hropkey Posted at 9:51 am on Jan. 1, 2009 I sometimes write with meter; it depends on what I'm writing. All 4 previous replies displayed.