POETIC METER IN THE GREAT INVOCATION STARLING DAVID HUNTER II © 2008 Simply put, “poetic meter” is the rhythm characterizing one or more lines of poetic verse. Scholars of poetry have named and classified several poetic meters and among the most common are the fambic and trochaic. “lambic” meter is present when the second syllable of a word is stressed, e.g. delay, remind, today. “Trochaic” meter occurs when the first syllable receives the stress, eg. often, candy, Tuesday. These concepts are also applicable to two-word combinations. For example, when the second of two words is stressed, as in the line below, the term “iambic” is also used: That time | of year | thou mayst| in me | behold? The same principle applies when the second of two words receives stress. Below is an example ofa line of poetry with trochaic meter: Tell me | not in | mournful | numbers? Metric Length The length of a line of poetic verse is measured in “feet” where a foot is defined as “the combination of accented and unaccented syllables.” For example, a line with three such combinations is three feet in length, also known as “trimeter.” If the line has four 2 http:/feww writing upenn edu" afilreis/88/meter. html ibid ® http:/fen. wikipedia org/wiki/Foot_ (prosody)POETIC METER IN THE GREAT INVOCATION STARLING DAVID HUNTER II © 2008 combinations, it is four feet in length and called tetrameter; if five pairs, then five feet, pentameter, and so on. A common manner of describing a poem's metrical form is to designate both its stress pattern and its length. For example, a line with five “iambs”* is described as “iambic pentameter” while one with three trochees®, is called “trochaic trimeter.” As shown below, the Great Invocation possesses a quite interesting set of poetic meters and lengths. The words are formatted as follows: stressed words or syllables are highlighted with bold text; unstressed syllables or words appear in plain text. Poetic theory allows that there may be words at the end or beginning of lines which are not included as part of the poem’s metrical form or length. Such words are in italic text. From the point |of Light |within |the Mind | of God [lambic pentameter] Let light |stream forth |into |the minds |ofmen. [lambic pentameter] Let Light |descend |on Earth. [lambic trimeter] From the point |of Love |within |the Heart |of God [lambic pentameter] Let love stream forth [into] the hearts |ofmen. [lambic pentameter] May Christ] return |to Earth. [lambic trimeter] From the| center| where the| Will of] God is| known [Trochaic pentameter] Let purpose| guide the| little| wills of] men- [Hrochaic tetrameter] The purpose| which the| Masters| know and| serve. [Trochaic tetrameter] From the| center] which wel call the| race of] men [Trochaic pentameter] Let the| Plan of] Love and| Light work] out [Hrochaic tetrameter] And may it] seal the| door where| evil] dwells. [Trochaic tetrameter] Let Light and| Love and| Power [Trochaic trimeter] restore| the Plan| on Earth. [lambic trimeter] # An unaccented syllable (or word) followed by an accented one. > An accented syllable (or word) followed by an accented one.POETIC METER IN THE GREAT INVOCATION STARLING DAVID HUNTER II © 2008 Analysis Ten of the most noteworthy features of this rendering of the Invocation are given below: 1. The length of each of the four verses is the same- 13 metric feet. The lines of the first two verses are 5, S, and 3 feet, respectively. The second two verses have lengths of 5,4, and 4 feet, respectively. The length of the last line is six feet, making the total length 13413 +13 +13 +6=58 feet. 1ft.__2ft. _3ft _4f, _s ft. Length From the point of Light within theMind of God 5 Letlight stream forth into theminds of men. 5 LetLight descend on Earth. 3 From the point of Love within theHeart of God 5 Let love stream forth into the hearts of men. 5 May Christ return toEarth. 3 Fromthe center where the Will of God is known 5 Let purpose guide the _ little wills of men- 4 The purpose whichthe —‘ Masters know and serve. 4 Fromthe center whichwe call the race of men 5 Let the Plan of Love and Light work out 4 And mayit seal the door where evil dwells. 4 let Lightand — Loveand Power 3 restore thePlan on Earth. 3 TOTAL= 58 2. The first line of each of the four verses is five metric feet in eng! if, ____2f, 3 af, St Length From the point of Light within theMind of God 5 From the point’ of Love within the Heart of God 5 From the center where the Willof Godis known 5 From the — center whichwe call the race of men 5 e