A Ballad to Iambics.... (poetic rhythm)

Ballad form: composed in iambic tetrameter/trimeter (8/6/8/6 meter), with an abab, cdcd, etc; rhyme scheme.

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        A Ballad to Iambics....

        

            Within your voice a tune is born,

            iambics turn to song …

            through every line, such words adorn

            each note that drifts along.

            

            Melodic strains of ecstasy

            invite sad hearts to dance,

            as every metered beat sets free

            quaint notions of romance.

            

            What is this magic spell so sweet

            soft winds cannot resist …

            by captive tappings of joy's feet,

            life's sadness is dismissed?

            

            Iambics, the bright golden key

            poetic locks befit,

            set loose beshackled mystery

            whence mastered verse is writ.

            

             

            Richard W. Jenkins

                © 20 Feb 2023

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Author's Note

Illustration courtesy of Pinterest copyright free images.

Please, feel free to offer well-meant constructive critique. ✍🏼

Reviews

[DecentlyOkayWriter]

Its words flow like a gentle stream,
Captivating the reader in a dream.
..........
A wonderful vocabulary (or at least what I consider a wonderful vocabulary) on this makes it fun to read- and Iambics about Iambics certainly is a nice idea, especially when it has rhymes that make you joyful and written by a noteworthy poet. May you have a nice day, and the world be in your favor

[Richard🖌]

Good Monday morning, Dow 🍷

Your gracious lines of poetry softly stir a bard's joyful imagination. Thank you ever-so gratefully.
The poetic language of iambics, once fluently learned, engenders a poetess or poet power to release the true essence of their rhythmic hearts, souls, and emotions, gifting them life to dance upon the page.
That my vocabulary has brought you a sense of fun and joyfulness, along with your inspiringly expressed appreciation, thereof, have graced a welcomed smile upon this otherwise overcast day.

"Noteworthy poet" … sighhh!
The very best of all things to thee, M'Friend! ⁓ Richard🖌

[AYVID N]

"Iambics, the bright golden key
poetic locks befit,
set loose beshackled mystery
whence mastered verse is writ."

Firstly, this poem is beautiful and reads like a song. The message is awesome too. Iambics are the golden key to writing mastered verses in perfect, rhyme and meter. Its such a fine art and demands such patience, perseverance and a creative pen too. I enjoyed this very inspiring and wonderfully written piece.

[Richard🖌]

Glory be, Dear Poetess 🌺🐝

How thoughtless of me to have missed your brightly intelligent, generous, and inspiringly understanding words in review for my humble efforts in composing this Ballad homage to poetic iambics.
You're not only a masterfully creative poetess, you are truly a very skilled reviewer and deeply valued, longtime friend who always leaves such warm delight.

Thank you ever-so warmly, Dear Divya ⁓ Richard🖌

[AYVID N]

It was such a pleasure to read this poem!
You're most welcome, dear Richard.

[Shelley Warner]

And your poem masters the use of iambics

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Shelley,

For your reading and acknowledgement.

Best to thee! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Robert Trakofler]

LOL all around clever Mr. Jenkins! I will be thinking in Iambic for the rest of the night now:/ Master of Structured Poetry and Karate how these two things seem so different and yet they are the same when I think about it:)

[Richard🖌]

Yes, My Friend,

How very correct you are … like music, well-performed karate and poetry all require good rhythm and timely beat, whether structured or loosely executed.
Many fail to recognize that iambics is a poetic language, once learned, that can be used in almost every form of poetry to assure smooth rhythm and beat … even the form of Free Verse.

Your reviews are always so very interesting and thought-provoking.
Thank you sincerely, Syr Robert! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Aura]

It is true, when you read a poem that is well metered, it creates an atmosphere of joy and pleasantness. It sounds like a lovely song that you can repeat over and over again. Iambic meter does that, especially with the way you wrote this poem. I enjoyed the rhyming alot. Thank you for sharing, I enjoyed the read!

[Richard🖌]

Ah, Lady Aura,

My long lost protegé … it so very nice to find you've selected one of my little homages to iambic meter to enjoy and comment one with appreciation and understanding, as only You know how.

You're so very welcome … come again, anytime! ⁓ Richard

[William Michael Reeves]

This is so good! Especially the idea of tapping our feet in the joy of meter and song. We do it naturally listening to music. I find myself tapping the pen on the page as I write in meter. Would trochaics be the yang of the yin? The complete coin with two sides. Maybe the evil twin that starts hard and short before the phrase can even start. This spoke to me as someone who has attempted to unravel the mystery of iambics. Good poem Richard.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Bill,

For selecting another or my humble pieces to share and review with such interesting thought and conceptions.
The Yin/Yangs or Yang/Yins of poetry are broadly complex and varied.
Such noted artists as Robert Burns, Edgar Allan Poe, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Walt Whitman, Edna St.Vincent Millay, T.S.Elliot, William Wordsworth, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, Robert Frost, E.E.Cummings, etc; and, even Bill Shakespeare would write in trochee meter.

Whether composed in iambic, anapestic, trochaic, dactylic, or spondaic meter … or, any combination thereof, the mysteries of poetry will never be completely unraveled.

But, I know like You & I will never be discouraged from trying! : )
Thank you, Syr Poet! ⁓ Richard

[William Michael Reeves]

You're killing me!! With things to study. Anapestic dactylic spondaic meter!?!? Discouragement is a fleeting obstacle. Easily avoided with a little inspiration and lots of motivation. You are a wealth Richard!!

[Richard🖌]

So kind of you to say, Syr 😌

[Lisasview]

Oh how I love everything about this newly posted Ballad of yours dearest Richard. The lovely image invites the reader in... and, then the reader is moved to the poetic dance of your charming words.
The flow is like one of my very favourite piano pieces by Peer Gunt, Anitra Song... The mystery in the notes...which compels one to listen. as does your lovely Ballad.
I especially love these words... "Iambics, the bright golden key poetic locks befit,"
Delighted to be one of the first to review your words.
Lisa

[Richard🖌]

Thank you your most graciously kind and generous soul, Lisa 🌾

That you love anything about my work fills the heart with joy.
And, ahhh, to to have my humble Ballad compared to the beautifully rhythmic thrill of Anitra's Dance from the Peer Gynt suite brings deep blush so rarely felt by this olde bard.

Your delight, M'Lady, is now my own! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Lisasview]

After I wrote Anitra's Song I immediately realised that I had not typed Dance... I probably had song in mind because of your beautiful Ballad.
How wonderful to know that you have heard of that particular piece of music!! But then nothing about you surprises me!! Just reread your Ballad and found even more to enjoy and learn from. I think everyone should reread poems...
Good morning to you from Spain, Lisa
PS... Typo... Peer Gynt Suite... not Gunt...

[Richard🖌]

I knew what you meant.
Remember, I fluently read Lisa dialect … LOL!

[Lisasview]

Ha ha.. a confused dialect to be sure...Lisa

[Patricia Wedel]

dear Richard... we will dance to the Thunder as
we wander among the restless clouds... where raindrops
are melodies of Lover's songs that linger in our Repertoire.
Be strong and listen to the Wind. tenderly, Pat

[Richard🖌]

A hug 'n a smile to thee, sweet Pat 🌼

Such lovely verse you gift always
to make one's heartbeat dance.
Within the mind it sofly plays
and speaks of lush romance. ; )

Thank you ever-so warmly, dear poetess! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Patricia Wedel]

Whoa Sir Knight… breathless moments and butterflies 🦋 whisper sweet nothings. Spring is waking. gently, Pat

[Susan 🦋]

How lovely are your written words
that flow in timely beats.
Just as the melodies of birds
with perfect little tweets!

Iambics turned to song indeed! A wonderful reminder on the importance of iambics. Thank you Richard.

[Richard🖌]

Ahhhh, Dear Susan 🎶

In perfect iambic beat, musicality, and rhymes, your beautiful review verse should have been included in my poem, as it so eloquently validates its premise.

Thank you, Susan, ever-so gratefully and warmly! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Susan 🦋]

Oh hush now, I dare not compare!
Nor, ever come so close ...
Your words electrify the air,
and that's just how it goes.
haha..ok I'll stop :-)

[Richard🖌]

Most humble, I bow. 😌