可变音步:威廉姆斯的现代主义诗歌艺术实践

Variable Foot:Modernist Poetical Practice of William Carlos Williams

可变音步是威廉姆斯为英语自由诗写作创制的诗行节奏计量方式,反映了他在诗歌艺术上的美学观念。可变音步由一个作为节拍计量的重读音节加上数目可以有变化的一至多个音节构成。威廉姆斯认为可变音步具有相对性,能反映不断变化中的英语的自然节奏,能让诗行表现出更好的音乐美感,在讲求规则的同时也能给予诗人更多创作的自由。威廉姆斯在实践中把可变音步与诗行及诗节进行一体化设计,做到统筹安排微观细节与宏观整体,让诗歌呈现精美的形式和悦人的旋律。

Variable foot is a term used by Williams for his unit of verse measure in his poetical practice of English free verse,which reflects the poet’s aesthetic idea of poetry.A variable foot consists of one stressed syllable,which serves the beat of verse rhythm in the measured unit,and unstressed syllables of which the number can be varied.Williams believes that such a design,being with relativity in measurement,presents more naturally the rhythm of English in change,showing better verse musicality,and at the same time,leaving poets more freedom in their composition.In his practice,Williams integrates the variable feet,the micro unit of measurement,and the variable-foot lines,the macro parts of verse construction,into a stanza,so as to beautify the prosodic form and the musical tune in a poem.