Question

‘Meter’ in poetry is a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in lines of a poem. It gives rhythm to the poem.

Read the poem below aloud and with any coloured pen/pencil put stress-marks (’) on those syllables that are stressed in the words of the poetic lines.

THE steadfast coursing of the stars, The waves that ripple to the shore, The vigorous trees which year by year Spread upwards more and more; The jewel forming in the mine, The snow that falls so soft and light, The rising and the setting sun, The growing glooms of night, All natural things both live and move In natural peace that is their own; Only in our disordered life Almost is she unknown.

Answer 1

The steadfast coursing of the stars,
The waves that ripple on the shore
The vigorous trees which year by year
Spread upwards more and more;
The jewel forming in the mine,
The snow that falls so soft and light,
The rising and the setting sun,
The growing glooms of night,
All natural things both live and move
In natural peace that is their own;
Only in our disordered life
Almost is she unknown.