0016 Amphibrach

A tinker, a tailor, a soldier, a sailor... ‘A one and a two and a three and a four, guys…’ The amphibrach sings one of poetry’s basics; a metrical foot – though a difficult one; it is named from the Greek, meaning short at both ends – that is, short, long, short, short, long short; a poet can use it like this for a few lines, or longer; however, it always seems trying to be something else – like, some poor donkey who’s lame in one hind-leg; it’s happier changing to dactyl or ana- pest – see what I mean, now?