Poetic measure is a term used to describe the structure of a poem. It is composed of elements such as METRE, METER, IAMB, FOOT and DACTYL. METRE is a pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of verse. METER is a unit of measurement used to measure the length of a line of poetry. An IAMB is a two-syllable metrical FOOT consisting of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable. A FOOT is a unit of poetic METER, which is composed of two or more syllables. A DACTYL is a three-syllable metrical FOOT consisting of a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables.