Home › Glossary › Letter C

Cadence verse

Sound
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Verse that prioritizes natural speech rhythms and phrasing over strict metrical patterns, emphasizing musicality through cadence rather than count.

Detailed Definition
Cadence verse prioritizes rhythmic phrasing derived from speech patterns and breath over metrical regularity, using cadence as its primary structural principle; it emphasizes sonic contour and emotional pacing, aligning with Olson’s projective poetics.
Example
Example in poetry:
Cadence verse follows speech rhythms rather than strict meter—like jazz phrasing; William Carlos Williams’s “The Red Wheelbarrow” uses cadence over meter; Free verse poets like Neruda rely on organic cadence; Cadence verse prioritizes breath and emphasis over count; It feels spoken, immediate, and bodily.
Additional Notes
Free verse emphasizing rhythm over meter, using speech patterns. Related to projective verse and breath-line. Focus on natural phrasing when reading.
Also Known As
Rhythmic verse cadenced poetry flowing meter natural rhythm verse
Skip to main content