Can someone point me to a really good introductory essay (or even book) on writing syllabics in English? Seriously, I'm not sure I understand what the goal is except that the lines should have the same number of syllables. Some of us admire lines in syllablic poems that have an even rhythm; others are saying that the evenness is arguably a failing. How could I not be confused?
I'd also like to know more about how people decide whether a given poem is (a) free verse, (b) a metrical poem that's flawed, (c) something in the class people are currently calling "semi-formal," or (d) syllabics. What gives you the clue that you should count syllables rather than perceiving one of the first three types?
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