BushBallad Meter

Informal name created by Mary Boren Sullivan, aka on Allpoetry.com.

Am adding it so others can have a go at a delightful metric experience.

OK, that's not the official name for it, but this particular rhyme scheme & metrical pattern echoes of thundering hooves, which makes me think of Banjo Paterson.  If you're stuck in iambic mode, it's a good way to break free.   

The form lends itself to light verse, but is versatile enough to support serious topics as well.  The meter is anapestic, as follows, presented in six-line stanzas with a rhyme scheme of aabccb.

ta da DUM / ta da DUM / da

ta DUM / ta da DUM / da

ta DUM /  ta da DUM / ta da DUM

If it feels more natural, you can substitute with an iamb for the first foot and/or move the feminine trailing syllables into the next line, like so ...

ta DUM / ta da DUM

ta da DUM / ta da DUM

ta da DUM /  ta da DUM / ta da DUM

Example Poem

Unfriended

My words are exacting 

yours simply distracting 

You argue in circles, at best.

You think that deceiving 

just  'cus you're believing 

Is okay, your  thinking is blessed.

      

Now, when you disparage 

an old friend's new marriage 

or put down another's good work

or put on two faces 

when speaking of races, 

you're behavior drives me berserk.

      

I'm mostly quite friendly, 

but  if in the end we

diverge so in our views, my friend,

though I'll still be mellow

and a jolly fellow,

I reckon our friendship will end.

© Lawrencealot - April, 2012

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