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Unread 08-25-2005, 08:26 PM
Alan Sullivan Alan Sullivan is offline
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'Ballad stanza' would imply 4-line verses. 'Ballad measure' could be found in verses any length, or through written, as here. I should have said 'ballad measure' at the outset to make the meaning clearer. These trimeter readings suppress the poem's movement, to my mind. The 4-3 alternation is much more natural. And look at the thing, for heaven's sake! All the odd-numbered lines stick out. You think that's a coincidence?

The poem is very atmospheric, yes, but perhaps not very well executed, metrically speaking.

Alan
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