Consistent metre.

[Neville Briggs]

Reading some of the judges comments published after bush poetry comps, I often see criticism about failure to maintain " consistent " metre.

I notice we have discussions on that topic on our web site from time to time,
and I see some people writing bush poetry and declaring that they have difficulty with the technicality of " proper " metre.

Just for encouragement and contemplation I offer this snippet that I found.

I came across this piece of wisdom from a person who is an internationally published and renowned authority on language and literature.

" The end of writing poetry is not to write 'perfect' metre with every line going da-dum or dum-da into the distance, it is to use the metre you've chosen to reflect the meaning, mood and emotional colour of your words and images.....don't get hung up on writing perfectly symmetrical parades of consistent rhythm..........it is finally a matter of nomenclature and one's own ear "
Stephen FRY, The Ode Less Travelled, Hutchinson 2005, pp67-69.

Please note... in no way is Stephen Fry some sort of poetry anarchist or
do-it-yourself "li'l ole spontaneous me" breaker of poetic forms and conventions. And he is a great fan of the rollicking ballad so beloved of bush poets.

[warooa]

Interesting, as you (and Stephen Fry) always are Nev - but the use of the word nomenclature is odd - in the same breath as saying not to get hung up over symetrics, rules and consistencies . . . . I'd always thought of the term nomenclature to be used in a very systematic, structured and scientific way.

Marty

[Neville Briggs]

He didn't actually say

not to get hung up over symetrics, rules and consistencies

he said

....don't get hung up on writing perfectly symmetrical parades of consistent rhythm

I think he means that although he is committed to the traditional structure and systematic forms of syllabic/accentual poetry, a bit of variation is a legitimate way to liven up the verse. Just a bit. Too much variation and it becomes chaotic and loses recognisable structure, no variation can mean dreary plodding.

[Stephen Whiteside]

Sounds reasonable.

[manfredvijars]

Consistent metre is important, particularly in written verse (lyrics and performance verse are another matter)
If the meter isn't consistent, the piece will hang and catch ...

for example, this piece from Neville, read this out loud a couple of times and you will find that it will 'catch' in three places ...

My first proper job
for a couple of bob;
I swept the factory floor.
I shoveiled the waste
from machining, displaced
for the skip outside the door.

the three places it 'catches' are ...
1. I swept <HERE> the factory floor.
and ...
2. for the skip <here> outside <and here> the door.

The reason the piece 'catches' in those places is because the flow of rythme has been broken by inconsistent metre.
If read out loud, a pause can be added, but that sometimes doesn't always work.

One possible 'fix' could be ...

My first proper job
for a couple of bob;
I swept UP the factory floor.
I shovelled the waste
from machining, displaced
for the skip JUST outside OF the door.

Read the piece out loud now and see of it 'flows' a little better ...

Hope this helps ...

[manfredvijars]

I've been looking for some of Stephen Fry's poetry, yes, I've googled but can't seem to find any.
I've found a lot of links where he speaks about poetry, but none on his actual poetry ...

Help, anyone .... ??

[Heather]

I've read most of his book Manfred (The Ode Less Travelled) and from memory he keeps his poetry private - I think I read that in his book - but Neville may correct me.

[keats]

I think you will find that the English Poet, Charles Lamb wrote a lot of Christopher Fry's poetry for him. You will find it in many good compilation cook books under 'Lamb's Fry'.

No need to thank me.

Neil

[manfredvijars]

Pity no one can see examples of his works ...

This could fall into the, "Those who can do, and those who can't - teach." category ...

[warooa]

I think you will find that the English Poet, Charles Lamb wrote a lot of Christopher Fry's poetry for him. You will find it in many good compilation cook books under 'Lamb's Fry'.


Neil

yeah and the profound stuff is under a subsection "Deep Fry"

You serious Neil or just tryna stir Fry? Christopher or Stephen that is.