Question

read this excerpt from a poem.

i now delight
in spite
of the might
and the right
of classic tradition,
in writing
and reciting
straight ahead,
without let or omission,
just any little rhyme
in any little time
that runs in my head;

what is the structure of the poem?

Explanation:

Analyze the rhyme scheme of the excerpt

• Line 1: delight (A)
• Line 2: spite (A)
• Line 3: might (A)
• Line 4: right (A)
• Line 5: tradition (B)
• Line 6: writing (C)
• Line 7: reciting (C)
• Line 8: ahead (D)
• Line 9: omission (B)
• Line 10: rhyme (E)
• Line 11: time (E)
• Line 12: head (D)

Determine the stanzaic and metrical structure

• The excerpt consists of a single 12-line stanza (a douzain).
• The lines are short, primarily written in dimeter (two metrical feet per line) with an irregular mix of iambic and anapestic feet.
• The rhyme scheme is AAAABCCBDDED.

Answer:

The poem is structured as a single 12-line stanza (a douzain) written in short, irregular dimeter lines. It follows a specific rhyme scheme of AAAABCCBDDED:

• Lines 1–4 rhyme: delight, spite, might, right (A)
• Lines 5 and 9 rhyme: tradition, omission (B)
• Lines 6–7 rhyme: writing, reciting (C)
• Lines 8 and 12 rhyme: ahead, head (D)
• Lines 10–11 rhyme: rhyme, time (E)