I wrote that last post about “Travel” before realizing that her rhythm was actually much more sophisticated than anything I used in my rhyming period. But something like that is what I thought I was writing. Of course, I was writing something much, much worse.

Joel took me to task on metrical grounds when he read my TIME TO RHYME copy, and I remember being frustrated with him. It had been so hard to write the whole thing in rhyme in the first place, let alone worry about meter. But although I wasn’t ready to hear it at the time, I think I can take that as the compliment it was – that he knew I was capable of more, and should have been doing better. Or, maybe not should have, but ought to in the future.

How hard it is is never the point. It’s supposed to be hard.

I wonder why it is that I’ve avoided meter, even to the point of consciously trying to forget the names of the various feet. I think it’s that I’d rather understand it aurally, and I thought there was something fake about people who learned meter out of feet in a book. But that particular mental subterfuge has run its course. I need the technique now.