How many men and women wrote Homer's greatest works? Is this a trick question? I have to say, my favorite poetical rhythm is the old
ta-DA ta-DA ta-DA ta-DUH-UH,
ta-DA ta-DA ta-DA ta-DAH.
What can I say? I'm a stick-in-the-mud. Odd--I never realized this before, but the first ta in each line is definitely the pick-up eighth note in 6/8 time. (I realized that when I tried to figure out why I felt compelled to put that UH in there: to allow for the "missing" beats in the measure, since there's no rest symbol in poems.) Songs in triple time are always favorites of mine, too. No, I'm not crazy--I don't think.
Thanks, Brandon--you do tend to lead my thoughts down new pathways.