What defines anapestic meter in poetry?

Anapestic meter in poetry is defined by the sequence of syllables arranged as unstressed, unstressed, and stressed. This means that in each foot—an essential unit of rhythm in a poem—two syllables are pronounced with less emphasis (unstressed) followed by one syllable that is pronounced with more emphasis (stressed). This arrangement creates a particular rhythmic flow, often contributing a light, buoyant tone to the poetry.

Anapestic meter is commonly found in various forms of poetry, especially in light verse and is often used to build momentum within lines. The use of the two unstressed syllables leading into a stressed syllable gives a characteristic bounce to the rhythm, which can add to the overall musical quality of the poem. This specific arrangement is distinct from other metrical patterns in poetry, which have different stress patterns.