Laurel · Poems by form and metre

Trochaic pentameter

Five trochees to the line, the stress falling first; rare in English. Below, what the metre is and how to recognise it, then every poem on Laurel measured as trochaic pentameter, with how closely each keeps it.

What trochaic pentameter is

Five beats to the line, heavy then light: DUM-da five times. Rare in English; a poet who wants five falling beats usually turns the first foot of an iambic line instead.

DUM-da DUM-da DUM-da DUM-da DUM-da

How to tell

Ten or nine syllables beginning on a heavy one, line after line. If only some lines begin heavy, the poem is iambic pentameter with inverted openings, which is far more common.

Paste a poem of your own and Laurel will say whether it is in trochaic pentameter, stanza by stanza. How to scan a line.

146 poems on Laurel in trochaic pentameter

  1. To a Sky-Lark William Wordsworth, The Poetical Works, Volume III · 89%
  2. Buona Notte Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Complete Poetical Works, Volume II · 100%
  3. On Fanny Godwin Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Complete Poetical Works, Volume II · 94%
  4. Cancelled Stanza Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Complete Poetical Works, Volume II · 93%
  5. Fragment: To the Moon Percy Bysshe Shelley, The Complete Poetical Works, Volume II · 80%
  6. Mine Emily Dickinson, Poems · 97%
  7. The Letter Emily Dickinson, Poems · 94%
  8. "Troubled About Many Things" Emily Dickinson, Poems · 84%
  9. The Sea of Sunset Emily Dickinson, Poems · 81%
  10. The Juggler of Day Emily Dickinson, Poems · 72%
  11. For Once, Then, Something Robert Frost, New Hampshire · 74%
  12. Nude Young Dancer Langston Hughes, The Weary Blues · 100%
  13. Great Mullen William Carlos Williams, Sour Grapes · 96%
  14. The Dark Day William Carlos Williams, Sour Grapes · 90%
  15. Clarity William Carlos Williams, Al Que Quiere! · 86%
  16. Paterson—The Strike William Carlos Williams, Al Que Quiere! · 80%
  17. The Hosting of the Sidhe W. B. Yeats, The Wind Among the Reeds · 84%
  18. Father Hart W. B. Yeats, Poems · 76%
  19. The Vision of Sin Alfred Tennyson, The Early Poems · 96%
  20. Song Alfred Tennyson, The Early Poems · 85%
  21. The Merman Alfred Tennyson, The Early Poems · 84%
  22. To E. B. B Robert Browning, Men and Women · 95%
  23. Book III: Ode IX: Donec Gratus Eram Horace, The Odes and Carmen Saeculare · 87%
  24. The Captain’s Lady Robert Burns, Poems and Songs · 94%
  25. Wandering Willie—Revised Version Robert Burns, Poems and Songs · 85%
  26. Inversnaid Gerard Manley Hopkins, Poems · 92%
  27. Twell De Night Is Pas' Paul Laurence Dunbar, The Complete Poems · 97%
  28. Night, Dim Night Paul Laurence Dunbar, The Complete Poems · 89%
  29. The Temporary the All Thomas Hardy, Wessex Poems and Other Verses · 81%
  30. The Golden Mile-Stone Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Complete Poetical Works · 92%
  31. The Two Maries Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Complete Poetical Works · 91%
  32. The Siege of Kazan Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Complete Poetical Works · 90%
  33. Flowers Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Complete Poetical Works · 88%
  34. Four by the Clock Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Complete Poetical Works · 88%
  35. Dramatis Personae Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Complete Poetical Works · 74%
  36. Self-Dependence Matthew Arnold, Poems · 96%
  37. Self-Deception Matthew Arnold, Poems · 91%
  38. Mental Cases Wilfred Owen, Poems · 94%
  39. A Ballad of Cape St. Vincent John Masefield, Salt-Water Ballads · 100%
  40. On Eastnor Knoll John Masefield, Salt-Water Ballads · 93%
  41. Song of Enchantment Walter de la Mare, Peacock Pie · 94%
  42. Death Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë, Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell · 95%
  43. Juggling Jerry George Meredith, Poems, Volume I · 88%
  44. To Robin Redbreast George Meredith, Poems, Volume I · 85%
  45. Seventh Street Jean Toomer, Cane · 86%
  46. Ad Juvencium. Cat. Ep. 49 Richard Lovelace, Lucasta · 100%
  47. Pentadii Richard Lovelace, Lucasta · 96%
  48. Ad M. T. Ciceronem. Catul Ep. 50 Richard Lovelace, Lucasta · 82%
  49. Mynstrelles Thomas Chatterton, The Rowley Poems · 100%
  50. 403. To Dianeme Robert Herrick, Hesperides · 92%
  51. 95. To the Generous Reader Robert Herrick, Hesperides · 86%
  52. The Caterpillar Robert Graves, Fairies and Fusiliers · 92%
  53. Study D. H. Lawrence, Amores · 88%
  54. A Villager Robert Bridges, Poetical Works · 93%
  55. The Fourth Dimension Robert Bridges, Poetical Works · 86%
  56. Exile Ernest Dowson, The Poems of Ernest Dowson · 74%
  57. The Tune of Seven Towers William Morris, The Defence of Guenevere · 94%
  58. Petit, the Poet Edgar Lee Masters, Spoon River Anthology · 89%
  59. Charles Webster Edgar Lee Masters, Spoon River Anthology · 89%
  60. Gustav Richter Edgar Lee Masters, Spoon River Anthology · 89%
  61. Tom Merritt Edgar Lee Masters, Spoon River Anthology · 86%
  62. Hiram Scates Edgar Lee Masters, Spoon River Anthology · 82%
  63. Willie Pennington Edgar Lee Masters, Spoon River Anthology · 82%
  64. Jefferson Howard Edgar Lee Masters, Spoon River Anthology · 80%
  65. The Santa Fe Trail Vachel Lindsay, The Congo and Other Poems · 92%
  66. Morning Sara Teasdale, Love Songs · 100%
  67. Tides Sara Teasdale, Love Songs · 100%
  68. Child, Child Sara Teasdale, Love Songs · 97%
  69. Gray Fog Sara Teasdale, Flame and Shadow · 94%
  70. At Sea Sara Teasdale, Flame and Shadow · 94%
  71. Winter Sleep Elinor Wylie, Nets to Catch the Wind · 94%
  72. Sanctuary Elinor Wylie, Nets to Catch the Wind · 93%
  73. Madman's Song Elinor Wylie, Nets to Catch the Wind · 85%
  74. Divided Jean Ingelow, Poems, Volume I · 83%
  75. To Harold Child Lionel Johnson, Poems · 95%
  76. To the Rev. Stewart Headlam Lionel Johnson, Poems · 87%
  77. White and Green Amy Lowell, Sword Blades and Poppy Seed · 78%
  78. De Little Pickaninny's Gone to Sleep James Weldon Johnson, Fifty Years and Other Poems · 99%
  79. You's Sweet to Yo' Mammy Jes De Same James Weldon Johnson, Fifty Years and Other Poems · 99%
  80. Nobody's Lookin' but De Owl and De Moon James Weldon Johnson, Fifty Years and Other Poems · 92%
  81. A-Maying John Addington Symonds, Wine, Women and Song · 100%
  82. Drede John Skelton, Poetical Works, Volume I · 100%
  83. The Great Silkie of Sule Skerrie Arthur Quiller-Couch, The Oxford Book of Ballads · 100%
  84. To Her Picture John Davies, The Complete Poems, Volume I · 100%
  85. Awdl Evan Evans, Specimens of the Poetry of the Ancient Welsh Bards · 100%
  86. Pum Awdl Evan Evans, Specimens of the Poetry of the Ancient Welsh Bards · 99%
  87. Drake's Drum Henry John Newbolt, Poems: New and Old · 99%
  88. Canu Evan Evans, Specimens of the Poetry of the Ancient Welsh Bards · 98%
  89. Hirlas Owain Evan Evans, Specimens of the Poetry of the Ancient Welsh Bards · 98%
  90. Hermotimus William Edmondstoune Aytoun, Lays of the Scottish Cavaliers · 98%
  91. The Fair Flower of Northumberland Arthur Quiller-Couch, The Oxford Book of Ballads · 98%
  92. Of AstrA John Davies, The Complete Poems, Volume I · 98%
  93. Gloucestershire Wassailers’ Song Robert Bell, Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England · 96%
  94. Of Her Phantasie John Davies, The Complete Poems, Volume I · 96%
  95. Poem VIII James Macpherson, Fragments of Ancient Poetry · 96%
  96. Pastheen Finn Eleanor Hull, The Poem-Book of the Gael · 95%
  97. Sráhmandázi Henry John Newbolt, Poems: New and Old · 95%
  98. Eclogues Garcilaso de la Vega, The Works of Garcilasso de la Vega · 94%
  99. Poem XIII James Macpherson, Fragments of Ancient Poetry · 94%
  100. Guthrunarhvot: Guthrun’s Inciting Anonymous, The Poetic Edda · 94%
  101. Ryno James Macpherson, Fragments of Ancient Poetry · 94%
  102. To All the Princes of Europe John Davies, The Complete Poems, Volume I · 94%
  103. To the Rose John Davies, The Complete Poems, Volume I · 92%
  104. Rigsthula: The Song of Rig Anonymous, The Poetic Edda · 92%
  105. Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II: The Second Lay of Helgi Hundingsbane IV Anonymous, The Poetic Edda · 92%
  106. Part VII Anonymous, Beowulf · 91%
  107. Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II: The Second Lay of Helgi Hundingsbane II Anonymous, The Poetic Edda · 90%
  108. Guthrunarkvitha Ii, En Forna: The Second, or Old, Lay of Guthrun Anonymous, The Poetic Edda · 90%
  109. Thrymskvitha: The Lay of Thrym Anonymous, The Poetic Edda · 90%
  110. Part XXIX Anonymous, Beowulf · 90%
  111. Part XXXIV Anonymous, Beowulf · 90%
  112. Helgakvitha Hundingsbana II: The Second Lay of Helgi Hundingsbane III Anonymous, The Poetic Edda · 89%
  113. Part XXII Anonymous, Beowulf · 89%
  114. The Poetic Edda: Of Hjorvarth and Sigrlin I Anonymous, The Poetic Edda · 89%
  115. The Lamentation of Fand When She Is About to Leave Cuchulain Eleanor Hull, The Poem-Book of the Gael · 88%
  116. The Valley Wind Various, A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems · 88%
  117. Of the Innumerable Vertues of Her Minde John Davies, The Complete Poems, Volume I · 88%
  118. Part XVI Anonymous, Beowulf · 88%
  119. Part XXVIII Anonymous, Beowulf · 88%
  120. Part XXIV Anonymous, Beowulf · 88%
  121. Harry’s Courtship Robert Bell, Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England · 88%
  122. Part X Anonymous, Beowulf · 87%
  123. The Creation of the Universe Eleanor Hull, The Poem-Book of the Gael · 87%
  124. To a Portrait Painter Who Desired Him to Sit Various, A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems · 86%
  125. Part XXIII Anonymous, Beowulf · 86%
  126. Part XII Anonymous, Beowulf · 86%
  127. Part IV Anonymous, Beowulf · 86%
  128. Part IX Anonymous, Beowulf · 86%
  129. Substance, Shadow, and Spirit Various, A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems · 84%
  130. Too Late Edmund Clarence Stedman, The Poetical Works of Edmund Clarence Stedman · 79%
  131. Gavotte (Old French) Henry John Newbolt, Poems: New and Old · 79%
  132. Realizing the Futility of Life Various, A Hundred and Seventy Chinese Poems · 78%
  133. Harvest-Home Song Robert Bell, Ancient Poems, Ballads and Songs of the Peasantry of England · 74%

The first 133 of 146 poems, best-known poets first. The rest are reachable through their poets.

Each poem's metre was measured from its own words by the method described here; the figure beside a poem is the share of its stressed syllables that fall on the beat. Forms are named from the rhyme scheme and line count together.