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A Rational Guide to Verse
or, Scansion Made Simple

Structure is continuous

A poem's lines may not all be the same length.  Nonetheless, they will still form equal sets of feet.  For example, in this verse by Edgar Allan Poe, only the two middle lines seem to be equal to each other.

However, these line breaks are only visual guides.  Poets may use extra line breaks to draw your attention to certain words, as Poe does here.  Having words or phrases on separate lines can make them stand out, visually-- but rhythm flows through them without interruption.

Overall, this verse is equal.  Because rhythm is continuous, its final three "lines" flow together and are equal to the first.  Structurally, this verse forms two equal sets of five feet each.

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