The study and use of steady meter in poetry is called prosody. Poets follow various metrical patterns to create different poetic forms and effects. For example, in iambic pentameter, a common meter in English poetry, each line consists of ten syllables with a recurring pattern of unstressed-stressed syllables (da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM). This pattern creates a steady, rhythmic beat. Here's an example of iambic pentameter from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet":
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
In this line, the stressed syllables fall on the words "soft," "what," "yonder," "east," "Ju," and "sun." The unstressed syllables are "but," "light," "through," "win," "dow," "breaks," "is," "the," and "let." The consistent use of iambic pentameter throughout the poem creates a steady, measured rhythm.
Steady meter is an essential element in traditional poetic forms like sonnets, odes, and ballads, where rhythmic structure plays a crucial role in shaping the overall impact of the poem. However, poets can also use variations in meter to create interesting effects or break away from conventional patterns, leading to more free verse styles of poetry.