A Phonological Metrical Investigation of Two of Ezra Pound and Bruce Ross’s Haiku Poems with Reference to Hayes's (1995) Parametric Metical Theory

Abstract

Since its emergence in 1970 up to the present time with its different versions, metrical theory has been used and applied to different texts in different languages. However, Bruce Hayes's parametric metrical theory has been proved to be universal through its application to the word and phrasal levels of many languages. By the metrical grids and a number of principles and parameters of this theory, the rhythmic pattern of stressed syllables, feet, words, and phrases can be demonstrated. The present study aims at answering the question of whether the parametric metrical theory can be applied to show the rhythmic structure of haiku poems. A haiku is a poem that descends from the Japanese poetry with three lines in 5-7-5- syllables respectively and mostly talks about a moment in nature. Many of the English poets started to write poems in a traditional haiku form. Some others, however, made some modifications with different numbers of lines and/or syllables. This study analyzes four haiku poems according to the parametric metrical theory, two of which are written by the American poet Ezra Pound in a modified haiku form, and the other two are written by the Canadian American poet Bruce Ross in the traditional form. To sum up, the theory proved its applicability in showing how the horizontal rhythm of the haiku lines can be demonstrated through the metrical grids via the stress alternation in each line and by the application of some metrical rules.

Keywords

• parameters
• haiku
• metrical theory
• stress
• rhythm
• Japanese poetry