~ The Poet's Place Cafe~

Trust me. You are not the one confusing the issue. The concept of meter in poetry is already very complex, and we are only going to cover the most fundamental here.

Basically, the difference between tetrameter, pentameter and hexameter depends on the pattern of stresses, as described in the following link: http://literarydevices.net/iamb/

If you will notice, Robert Frost's poem (Example #1) is written in dimeter (two feet) lines, but they are not entirely iambic. There are also a few anapestic feet thrown in to break the repetitive cadence:

from a HEM/-lock TREE/
has GIV/-en my HEART/

and

of a DAY/ i had RUED/

The following link provides descriptions and examples of a few other types of meter: http://literarydevices.net/meter/

Since these patterns rely on distinguishing relative stresses to compare with other syllables, we should approach the issue with a grain of salt and allow some latitude (also known as Creative License ).

Let the creativity flow from your soul!
Dave
"The Poet's Place "