“Meter” refers to the melodic, and audible, pattern in poetry, and “penta” means “five”. An “iamb” is simply an unstressed (and therefore short, when spoken) syllable followed by a free-flowing, long one. If you’ve never heard of it before, don’t worry - a common-sense concept hides behind the fancy name.

Iambic pentameter is among the most widely-used meters in English-language poetry. How do you do it? Iambic Pentameter Basics Writing in iambic pentameter is a fun challenge that will lead you to catchy, impactful, poems or songs.