Rythm

Definition: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of a poem


Example: This is the first two stanza from the poem, "My Papa's Waltz" and the number at the end represent how many syllables in each line.


The whiskey on your breath (6)  

Could make a small boy dizzy; (7)  

But I hung on like death: (6)  

Such waltzing was not easy. (8)

We romped until the pans (7)  

Slid from the kitchen shelf; (6)  

My mother’s contenance (6) 

Could not unfrown itself. (7)

Significance: A poem with rhythm is very important because when you're reading a poem there is a flow to it. The poem becomes better if you're reading it smoothly.