A Month of Meter

Meter is the most fundamental poetic tool there is.

Older than rhyme, more primal even than metaphor, meter has been in Western poetry from the beginning.

But today, few people writing poetry feel confident with what meter is or how to identify it—let alone how to use it!

Yet meter is still relevant now. Not only is it essential for a full understanding of many poetic forms, it is also a powerful way to learn rhythm for all poetry—including free verse.

A Month of Meter teaches you the crucial skills you need to start exploring meter and expanding your confidence and skill with rhythm.

Over 5 classes, you will:

• Learn to find and identify meter, so you can benefit from seeing how others have used it

• Write your own poems with meter, to get to know it deeply

• Study and use different types of meter, so you can create different moods and effects

• Explore how to vary your meter to make it flexible and fresh

• Apply meter to traditional poetic forms…

• … but also see how metrical thinking can energize your free verse

Course Philosophy

The course is designed to be:

• Accessible, with a step-by-step approach that breaks the complex world of mater into manageable sections

• Practical, with an emphasis on applying all you learn to writing your own poems

• Supportive, with group learning and optional feedback partners to share questions and get help.

Overall, it will be a great chance to get to grips with meter and how to use it, all while enjoying the journey.

So I hope you’ll join us!