When you read a poem, the differences between written prose and poetic language often stand out immediately. The most apparent differences are two of the most basic qualities of poetry: rhyme and meter. We hope to give you an overview of both concepts which are helpful to know when reading a poem.

Rhyme refers to the similarity or correspondence of sounds between words, typically at the end of lines in poetry or lyrics. Rhymes can occur with single words (e.g., "cat" and "hat") or with multiple syllables (e.g., "hickory, dickory, dock").

Meter refers to the rhythmic structure of a poem, created by the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in each line. A meter is often measured in terms of poetic feet, such as iambic (unstressed, stressed), trochaic (stressed, unstressed), anapestic (unstressed, unstressed, stressed), and dactylic (stressed, unstressed, unstressed). Meter contributes to the overall musicality and flow of a poem. 

The sad little houses, the poor little houses

Crowded by the riverside.

The holes in their roofs, the cracks in their walls

Vainly they try to hide.

The stench of the river, the dark, muddy river

Is with them night and day,

Pure, fresh air may be had for the moving

But they can’t move away.

They can only stand by the bank of the river

Buried knee-deep in clay.

They can only stare at the drifting garbage

Until they, too decay.

And, pass away into ghosts of houses

Killed by burning sun,

Smothered with dust and then forgotten

Forgotten by everyone.