re: “Saban and the Nat” a dramatic retelling of the Earthquake Two Point Won game.

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, there are similar instances of imperfect rhyme and meter in each. There are times when each poem doesn’t quite flow because of this.

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I'm late in my response to this whole thread, however, I couldn't let this slide. The meter works absolutely perfectly for anyone who reads it, with the exception of people with no musical ability or training. There are "pick up notes" found in musical compositions which allow a tune or meter to begin before the stroke of the downbeat of the following measure. This can occur at the beginning of a composition, or it can occur any place within it.

Those who have the lowest, most rudimentary and unrefined understanding of music and meter can understand quarternotes, half notes, eighth, and sixteenth notes in 4/4 time. Those who are more accomplished and sophisticated understand the use of triplet notes, and the occasional use of an odd meter, such as 5/4 or 7/8, to emphasize a point or moment.

I shan't even attempt to explain syncopation to on oaf who is devoid of understanding the fine intricacies of well written and metered verse since I doubt very much you will comprehend the simple concepts outlined above.

Suffice it to say that the OP has done a magnificent job of reproducing Casey at Bat every bit as well as his flawless homage to T'was the Night Before Christmas, which is generally butchered by most folks to attempt to follow that meter and rhyme pattern.

I suggest you stick to your simple Dick and Jane elementary reader and allow the rest if us to enjoy the works of our modern day Rudyard Kipling who pens poetry of battles fought between armies clad in bold colors, wearing gaudy helmets, and performing acts of valor to sate the bloodlust of the masses gathered in Death Valley on a Saturday night in November.