What is "Meter" in poetry?
Meter is a unit of rhyme in poetry, the pattern of beats. In higher level English literature courses, you will learn the terms for the five types of meter. For this year, however, it may be helpful to think of meter as syllables (sounds) within lines of poetry. To help us hear the syllables and the meter of a poem, it's helpful to clap as we pronounce each syllable. Renascence
by Edna St. Vincent Millay All I could see from where I stood Was three long mountains and a wood; I turned and looked another way, And saw three islands in a bay. So with my eyes I traced the line Of the horizon, thin and fine, Straight around till I was come Back to where I'd started from; And all I saw from where I stood Was three long mountains and a wood. |
1. Death of a Snowman
by Vernon Scannell I was awake all night, Big as a polar bear, Strong and firm and white. The tall black hat I wear Was draped with ermine fur. I felt so fit and well Till the world began to stir And the morning sun swell. I was tired, began to yawn; At noon in the humming sum I caught a severe warm; My nose began to run. My hat grew black and fell, Was followed by my grey head. There was no funeral bell, But by tea-time I was dead. 2. Today is Very Boring
By Jack Prelutsky Today is very boring, It’s a very boring day, There is nothing much to look at, There is nothing much to say, There’s a peacock on my sneakers, There’s a penguin on my head, There’s a dormouse on my doorstep, I am going back to bed. Today is very boring, It is boring through and through, There is absolutely nothing that I think I want to do, I see giant riding rhinos, And ogre with a sword, There’s a dragon blowing smoke rings, I am positively bored. Today is very boring, I can hardly help but yawn, There’s a flying saucer landing In the middle of my lawn A volcano just erupted Less than half a mile away, And I think I felt an earthquake, It’s a very boring day. |
3. The Falling Star
Sara TeasdaleI saw a star slide down the sky, blinding the north as it went by, too burning and too quick to hold, too lovely to be bought or sold, good only to make wishes on and then forever gone. 4. Travel
By Edna St. Vincent Millay The railroad is miles away, And the day is loud with voices speaking, Yet there isn’t a train goes by all day But i hear its whistle shrieking. All night there isn’t a train goes by, Thought the night is still for sleeping and dreaming, But i see its cinder red on the sky, And hear its engine steaming, My heart is warm with the friends I make, And better friends I’ll not be knowing, Yet there isn’t a train that I wouldn’t take, No matter where it’s going. 5. Dying Before I’m Done
By Sharon G. Flake In case somebody shoots me, In case someone does me in, Here’s what you should know about me. I am a loyal, dependable friend. I eat ice cream with a fork. I love bacon, but I’m allergic to pork. Cookies with sprinkles are my favorite treat. I know it’s gross, but I like to smell my own feet. In sixth grade I made all A’s, By eighth grade i was more into babes. There’s a secret only my mother knows. Every Mother’’s Day I polish her toes. There are lots of things I plan to do. Spend a summer working at the Louvre, Take my sister to New York on the train, Convince my dad to ride in an airplane, Show my brother how to have a good time Playing chess instead of drinking wine. Only some things end sooner than you want, Like your first kiss and fourth-period lunch. So if I die before I’m done, Don’t let ‘em forget While I was here, I had me some fun. |