Double dactyl
Encyclopedia
A dactyl
is a term used in formal English poetry
to describe a trisyllablic metrical foot
made up of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed ones. Matador, realize, cereal and limerick as well as the word poetry itself are examples of words that are themselves dactyls. A double dactyl can therefore simply mean two consecutive dactyls.
A double dactyl is also a verse form, also known as "higgledy piggledy", purportedly invented by Anthony Hecht
and Paul Pascal in 1961, but having a history as a parlor word game earlier in the century. Like a limerick
, it has a rigid structure and is usually humorous, but the double dactyl is considerably more rigid and difficult to write. There must be two stanza
s, each comprising three lines of dactylic dimeter followed by a line with a dactyl and a single accent. The two stanzas have to rhyme
on their last line. The first line of the first stanza is repetitive nonsense. The second line of the first stanza is the subject of the poem, a proper noun (marked in these examples with a single asterisk, *, or where not exactly a proper name with a parenthesized asterisk (*)). Note that this name must itself be double-dactylic. There is also a requirement for at least one line of the second stanza to be entirely one double dactyl word, for example "va-le-dic-tor-i-an" (marked with two asterisks, **). Some purists still follow Hecht and Pascal's original rule that no single six-syllable word, once used in a double dactyl, should ever be knowingly used again.
A self-referential example by Roger L. Robison:
An example by John Hollander:
An example by E. Jaksch:
A double dactyl by Paul Pascal on the subject of Antony and Cleopatra
:
An example about Joe DiMaggio
by Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten
:
In literature, Neil Gaiman
's Stardust (novel)
contains a double dactyl:
John Bellairs
' classic fantasy novel The Face in the Frost
contains several double dactyls, used as nonsense magic spells, such as the following:
And from Wendy Cope
Abbreviated Lays, a collection of double dactyl poetry about Roman History using the Latin language was written by Andres Reyes, Teacher at the famous Groton School
in November 2003. He himself is a member of the form of 1980.
Double dactyl verse form is, perhaps unsurprisingly, rare in popular music. One example from this field is the song "Sam" by the Meat Puppets
, which begins with the lyric: Maybe they had a/ridiculous statement/to make about something/they hadn't experienced.
A similar verse form called a McWhirtle
was invented in 1989 by American poet Bruce Newling.
A related form is the double amphibrach
, similar to the McWhirtle but with stricter rules more closely resembling the double dactyl.
Dactyl (poetry)
A dactyl is a foot in meter in poetry. In quantitative verse, such as Greek or Latin, a dactyl is a long syllable followed by two short syllables, as determined by syllable weight...
is a term used in formal English poetry
Poetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
to describe a trisyllablic metrical foot
Foot (prosody)
The foot is the basic metrical unit that generates a line of verse in most Western traditions of poetry, including English accentual-syllabic verse and the quantitative meter of classical ancient Greek and Latin poetry. The unit is composed of syllables, the number of which is limited, with a few...
made up of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed ones. Matador, realize, cereal and limerick as well as the word poetry itself are examples of words that are themselves dactyls. A double dactyl can therefore simply mean two consecutive dactyls.
A double dactyl is also a verse form, also known as "higgledy piggledy", purportedly invented by Anthony Hecht
Anthony Hecht
Anthony Evan Hecht was an American poet. His work combined a deep interest in form with a passionate desire to confront the horrors of 20th century history, with the Second World War, in which he fought, and the Holocaust being recurrent themes in his work.-Early years:Hecht was born in New York...
and Paul Pascal in 1961, but having a history as a parlor word game earlier in the century. Like a limerick
Limerick (poetry)
A limerick is a kind of a witty, humorous, or nonsense poem, especially one in five-line or meter with a strict rhyme scheme , which is sometimes obscene with humorous intent. The form can be found in England as of the early years of the 18th century...
, it has a rigid structure and is usually humorous, but the double dactyl is considerably more rigid and difficult to write. There must be two stanza
Stanza
In poetry, a stanza is a unit within a larger poem. In modern poetry, the term is often equivalent with strophe; in popular vocal music, a stanza is typically referred to as a "verse"...
s, each comprising three lines of dactylic dimeter followed by a line with a dactyl and a single accent. The two stanzas have to rhyme
Rhyme
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds in two or more words and is most often used in poetry and songs. The word "rhyme" may also refer to a short poem, such as a rhyming couplet or other brief rhyming poem such as nursery rhymes.-Etymology:...
on their last line. The first line of the first stanza is repetitive nonsense. The second line of the first stanza is the subject of the poem, a proper noun (marked in these examples with a single asterisk, *, or where not exactly a proper name with a parenthesized asterisk (*)). Note that this name must itself be double-dactylic. There is also a requirement for at least one line of the second stanza to be entirely one double dactyl word, for example "va-le-dic-tor-i-an" (marked with two asterisks, **). Some purists still follow Hecht and Pascal's original rule that no single six-syllable word, once used in a double dactyl, should ever be knowingly used again.
A self-referential example by Roger L. Robison:
- Long-short-short, long-short-short
- Dactyls in dimeterDimeterIn poetry, a dimeter is a metrical line of verse with two feet. Consider Thomas Hood's "Bridge of Sighs:"In poetry, a dimeter is a metrical line of verse with two feet. Consider Thomas Hood's "Bridge of Sighs:"...
,(*) - Verse form with choriambChoriambIn Greek and Latin poetry, a choriamb is a metron consisting of four syllables in the pattern long-short-short-long , that is, a trochee alternating with an iamb. Choriambs are one of the two basic metra that do not occur in spoken verse, as distinguished from true lyric or sung verse...
s - (Masculine rhyme):
- One sentence (two stanzas)
- Hexasyllabically**
- Challenges poets who
- Don't have the time.
An example by John Hollander:
- Higgledy piggledy,
- Benjamin HarrisonBenjamin HarrisonBenjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
,* - Twenty-third president
- Was, and, as such,
- Served between ClevelandsGrover ClevelandStephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
and - Save for this trivial
- Idiosyncrasy,**
- Didn't do much.
An example by E. Jaksch:
- Inheritance
- Higgledy-Piggledy
- Gay Caius JuliusJulius CaesarGaius Julius Caesar was a Roman general and statesman and a distinguished writer of Latin prose. He played a critical role in the gradual transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
.(*) - Tribune sojourning a
- Long way from home,
- Seeking distraction in
- NicomedophilyNicomedes IV of BithyniaNicomedes IV Philopator, was the king of Bithynia, from c. 94 BC to 74 BC. He was the first son and successor of the Monarchs Nicomedes III of Bithynia and Nysa and had a sister called Nysa....
,** - Earned with his service a
- Province for Rome.
A double dactyl by Paul Pascal on the subject of Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra
Antony and Cleopatra is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607. It was first printed in the First Folio of 1623. The plot is based on Thomas North's translation of Plutarch's Lives and follows the relationship between Cleopatra and Mark Antony...
:
- Tact
- "Patty cake, patty cake,
- Marcus AntoniusMark AntonyMarcus Antonius , known in English as Mark Antony, was a Roman politician and general. As a military commander and administrator, he was an important supporter and loyal friend of his mother's cousin Julius Caesar...
,* - What do you think of the
- African queenCleopatra VII of EgyptCleopatra VII Philopator was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.She was a member of the Ptolemaic dynasty, a family of Greek origin that ruled Egypt after Alexander the Great's death during the Hellenistic period...
?"
- "Gubernatorial**
- Duties require my
- Presence in EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Ya - Know what I mean?"
An example about Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
by Washington Post writer Gene Weingarten
Gene Weingarten
Gene Weingarten is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist known for both his serious and humorous work...
:
- Higgledy Piggledy
- Joseph DiMaggio,*
- Jolted the ball but was
- Jilted in bed.
- Marilyn walked, but he
- Necro-romantically**
- Laid her in rose bouquets
- When she was dead.
In literature, Neil Gaiman
Neil Gaiman
Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...
's Stardust (novel)
Stardust (novel)
Stardust is the first solo prose novel by Neil Gaiman. It is usually published as a novel with illustrations by Charles Vess. Stardust has a different tone and style from most of Gaiman's prose fiction, being consciously written in the tradition of pre-Tolkien English fantasy, following in the...
contains a double dactyl:
- Hankety pankety
- Boy in a blanket, he’s(*)
- Off on a goose-chase to
- Look for a star
- Incontrovertibly**
- Journeys through Fäerie
- Strip off the blanket to
- See who you are.
John Bellairs
John Bellairs
John Anthony Bellairs was an American author, best known for his well-respected fantasy novel The Face in the Frost as well as many gothic mystery novels for young adults featuring Lewis Barnavelt, Anthony Monday, and Johnny Dixon.-Biography:After earning degrees at University of Notre Dame and...
' classic fantasy novel The Face in the Frost
The Face in the Frost
The Face in the Frost is a short 1969 fantasy novel by author John Bellairs. Unlike most of his later works, this book is meant for adult readers. It centers on two accomplished wizards, Prospero and Roger Bacon, tracking down the source of a great magical evil. The subject matter prompted Ursula K...
contains several double dactyls, used as nonsense magic spells, such as the following:
- Higgledy-Piggledy
- St. Athanasius*
- Rifled through volumes in
- Unseemly haste
- Trying to find out if,
- Hagiographically,**
- John of Jerusalem
- Liked almond paste.
And from Wendy Cope
Wendy Cope
Wendy Cope, OBE is an award-winning contemporary English poet. She read history at St Hilda's College, Oxford. She now lives in Ely with the poet Lachlan Mackinnon.-Biography:...
- Higgledy-piggledy
- Emily DickinsonEmily DickinsonEmily Elizabeth Dickinson was an American poet. Born in Amherst, Massachusetts, to a successful family with strong community ties, she lived a mostly introverted and reclusive life...
* - Liked to use dashes
- Instead of full stops.
- Nowadays, faced with such
- Idiosyncrasy,**
- Critics and editors
- Send for the cops.
Abbreviated Lays, a collection of double dactyl poetry about Roman History using the Latin language was written by Andres Reyes, Teacher at the famous Groton School
Groton School
Groton School is a private, Episcopal, college preparatory boarding school located in Groton, Massachusetts, U.S. It enrolls approximately 375 boys and girls, from the eighth through twelfth grades...
in November 2003. He himself is a member of the form of 1980.
Double dactyl verse form is, perhaps unsurprisingly, rare in popular music. One example from this field is the song "Sam" by the Meat Puppets
Meat Puppets
The Meat Puppets are an American rock band formed in January 1980, in Phoenix, Arizona. The group's original lineup was Curt Kirkwood , his brother Cris Kirkwood , and Derrick Bostrom . The Kirkwood brothers met Bostrom while attending Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix...
, which begins with the lyric: Maybe they had a/ridiculous statement/to make about something/they hadn't experienced.
A similar verse form called a McWhirtle
McWhirtle
A McWhirtle is a light verse form similar to a double dactyl, invented in 1989 by American poet Bruce Newling. McWhirtles share essentially the same form as double dactyls, but without the strict requirements, making them easier to write...
was invented in 1989 by American poet Bruce Newling.
A related form is the double amphibrach
Double amphibrach
The double amphibrach is a variation of the double dactyl, similar to the McWhirtle but with stricter formal requirements. Meter and lineation are consistently amphibrachic rather than dactylic , and the shortened fourth and eighth lines rhyme...
, similar to the McWhirtle but with stricter rules more closely resembling the double dactyl.