12-02-2012, 09:52 PM
Here's my method for reading meter (it's very sophisticated):
I read the poem out loud. If it feels like it has rhythm and everything sounds right, nothing feels off, than I don't worry about it. I think of it like a meal. I might catch a hint of cinnamon or rosemary in a dish and that's cool but I didn't come there to eat the spice rack. There are bound to be substitutions in meter (or it can get a bit repetitive). If the form calls for a normative meter than yes I'm thinking cinnamon, cinnamon, parsley, cinnamon, cinnamon--hey what's up with the parsley.
I read the poem out loud. If it feels like it has rhythm and everything sounds right, nothing feels off, than I don't worry about it. I think of it like a meal. I might catch a hint of cinnamon or rosemary in a dish and that's cool but I didn't come there to eat the spice rack. There are bound to be substitutions in meter (or it can get a bit repetitive). If the form calls for a normative meter than yes I'm thinking cinnamon, cinnamon, parsley, cinnamon, cinnamon--hey what's up with the parsley.
The secret of poetry is cruelty.--Jon Anderson