Sounds of Poetry

Poetry is often composed of literary devices that place emphasis on certain words and sound with a particular arrangement as to create a musical effect. A defining element of good poetry is a poems rhythm.

            Edward Hirsch’s poem Fast Break exemplifies this type of rhythmic poetry. The poem, communicating a certain message about the game of basketball, is organized so that each the syllables seem to alternate between stressed and unstressed similar to iambic pentameter. The rise and fall between each word’s syllables develops cadence, the rise and fall of the voice, within the poem when read aloud. The rising and falling rhythm of Fast Break seems to mimic the movement of a basketball being dribbled down the court as if on a fast break. In this case sound devices relate closely to the central idea and overall rhythm of the poem.