One Step Short
I've complained before about not having enough to say[1], but recently I've run into an extremely specific version of this, which although not as much of an impediment in my life, is still quite annoying.
I've been trying my hand at writing poetry lately[2]. Making my words fit into the structure of a meter and rhyme scheme is challenging, but interesting. If only because it makes me consider multiple ways to express a thought. So I don't object to the challenge per se, but I have noticed a particular difficulty in writing standard english iambic pentameter. My brain just doesn't seem to work on that rhythm. I can do the iambs just fine, but the natural length of a phrase or sentence is much more often eight syllables, a tetrameter, rather than the prescribed ten. Now this has me wondering how long are your sentences? How many syllables go between your commas? I think I might have to go back through my the my posts and do some counting. I wonder if there's a typical rhythm? I wonder if this rhythm, this typical length of a phrase has changed over time, from the heyday of of metrical poetry?
In other words, what if it's not just that I need more practice in writing iambic pentameter but that the english language as a whole has changed to make it more difficult for me personally? I guess I've got some googling to do.
[1]:
[2]: For the most part I haven't shared it anywhere,but I do have some posted here:
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