11-03-2015, 12:27 AM
(11-02-2015, 09:22 PM)billy Wrote: ... can there be meter without rhythm?
Nice kōan.
A mono-syllabled foot with just one stressed or unstressed syllable would still have
rhythm because there would still be the time before and the time after it was spoken.
But a null foot without any syllables would work. It wouldn't have any rhythm.
So yes, you can have meter without rhythm*.
*Though, considering RiverNotch's two senses of rhythm: The null-foot, while not possessing
the rhythm of sound, would still have the rhythm of thought for the writer; because she/he would know
it was there. But for the reader, yes, for the reader it would indeed have no rhythm (unless the writer
told her/him).
What is the sound of no hands clapping?
a brightly colored fungus that grows in bark inclusions