I need to know the rhythm and meter of Billy Collins "Forgetfulness"
This poem is considered to be in "free verse."
http://www.answers.com/topic/free-verse
To determine the rhythm and meter of a poem like Billy Collins' "Forgetfulness," we need to closely examine its structure and analyze the syllabic patterns and stresses within the lines.
Here is the first stanza of the poem:
"The name of the author is the first to go
followed obediently by the title, the plot,
the heartbreaking conclusion, the entire novel
which suddenly becomes one you have never read, never even heard of,"
To identify the rhythm and meter, we can focus on the syllables and stress patterns within each line. A common metric unit in poetry is the foot, which is a combination of stressed and unstressed syllables. The most common types of feet are the iamb, trochee, anapest, and dactyl.
To determine the rhythm, we should listen for the stressed and unstressed syllables. In "Forgetfulness," Billy Collins primarily uses iambic pentameter, which consists of five iambs (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) within a line.
For example, if we break down the first line of the stanza, we have:
"The name | of the au- | thor is | the first | to go"
Each "| " represents a stressed syllable, and the dashes represent unstressed syllables. In this line, we have five iambs, making it iambic pentameter. The same pattern continues throughout the stanza.
It is important to note that some variations and deviations from strict iambic pentameter might be present in "Forgetfulness" and other poems. Poets often use these variations to create rhythmic effects and emphasize certain words or ideas.
By examining the syllables and stress patterns in each line, you can determine the rhythm and meter of the entire poem.