Maybe someone can help me

[Marsbert]

I have this hard poem to write, but it says to use "four beats to a line" and I dont know what that means. I emailed my professor about it but she hasn't gotten back to me yet and I want to get started on it. Can anyone explain that to me? Any of you writers??

[Marsbert]

here's what we had to do:

5 nouns: rock, cloud, throat, dog, eye
5 verbs: bruise, hug, cut, kiss, ruin
5 adjectives: sharp, red, hot, wavering, tough

4 beats per line <--- only thing I'm not too sure about
3 stanzas - 6 lines each
at least 2 internal & 1 external slant rhyme per stanza
2 end stops per stanza
the poem has to be meaningless


here's what I came up with so far:

(Needs a title)

Cut through those clouds.
Dog eyes awed by
the time spent while
watching those hot
coals ruin our days.
Say good-bye love

that tough sky un-
done to his sharp
throat. Own your space.
Kiss the rock you lay.
Redden those clouds
to rain life down.

"I want to hug me."
Your mind says high
as that bruising time
whips life into a fit.
Unwavering
smile finds its rhyme

[Poseidon]

"Cut through those clouds."

I think this is 2 beats.

beat on "through" and "clouds". by beats... it I think it means sugnifficant syllibol. it's been forever since i've done poetry. Most usefull for me if i am trying to get in some chicks panties...

[whitecrow]

Syllable = beat.

just googled it ma'am.

[Marsbert]

thanks guys, that helps. :-D

[Bassmama]

Yeah- like WC says- each syllible is a beat.
Three cats are playing. = 5 beats
I see you.= 3 beats
EPT can't count worth shit. = 7 beats

Unnerstand?

[Marsbert]

Maybe this is better....I hope ;)

THAT FIRST HELLO

Cutting through those fiery clouds.
Tired dog eyes awed by that bright
the empty time spent while
watching as those steaming hot
coals reap ruin and carnage on our days.
Say good-bye to that great love

that bleary tough angered sky un-
done by his seeping, sharp-tongued
throat. Own that which is your space, and
kiss the broken rock you lay your crown on.
See those clouds bleed red
to pour aching life down upon.

"I want to hug myself forever."
Your mind says pitched up high
and bruised by forever’s time
as it whips life into an aching fit.
Unwavering is that wretched
smile that finds its rhyme