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Varied dimeter

Meter
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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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

A dimeter line that alternates or mixes metrical feet while retaining two beats

Detailed Definition
Varied dimeter describes a two-beat line that incorporates metrical substitutions—such as trochees or spondees—within its brief span to avoid monotony and add expressive nuance; despite its brevity, this flexibility allows emotional shading and rhythmic surprise in epigrammatic or lyrical contexts.
Example
Example in poetry:
Robert Burns’ “A Red, Red Rose”: “O my Luve is like a red, red rose” (varied dimeter with anapest); modern example: “Rain falls soft / on rooftops cold”; another: “Go now, child / to the sea”; Emily Dickinson often uses varied dimeter with dashes.
Additional Notes
Varied dimeter alternates or mixes different two-beat patterns within a poem; it prevents monotony while retaining the brevity and punch of short lines.
Also Known As
Irregular two-beat Flexible short line Adaptive dimeter Complex dimeter Mixed two-foot verse
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