Meter, in poetry, refers to the pattern of rhythm in a poem. The pattern may be easy or difficult to hear. Poets who create meters in English usually work within one of three metrical traditions: (1) stress, (2) syllabic, or (3) foot-verse. For a discussion of meter and examples of the most important meters, see Poetry (Rhythm and meter).
Meter is not necessary to poetry. In many poems, the rhythm does not create a pattern (see Free verse). The rhythm of such poetry often follows the structures of phrases and clauses, and the arrangement of lines on the page.
