A metrical form in which most lines consist of five 'iambs', a unit of rhythm (a 'foot') in poetry, consisting of two syllables. The first one is unstressed, the second one stressed.
One day / I wrote / her name/ upon / the strand
but came / the waves / and wash / ed it / away
Again / I wrote / it with / a se /cond hand
But came / the tide / and made / my pains / his prey