pentadecasyllables

A pentadecasyllable is a line of verse containing fifteen syllables. This metrical unit is not as commonly discussed or recognized as shorter or longer lines found in traditional Western prosody, such as the iambic pentameter. The term itself is derived from Greek roots: "pentekaideka" meaning fifteen, and "syllable".

While not a staple of classical or medieval European poetry, pentadecasyllables can appear in various poetic forms. They may arise organically within longer, more complex metrical schemes or be intentionally employed by poets seeking a particular rhythmic effect. The extended length of a pentadecasyllable can create a sense of expansiveness, a lingering on a thought, or a more detailed descriptive passage.

In some traditions, particularly those with different syllabic counting systems or prosodic structures, lines of this length might be more prevalent. However, in English poetry, where syllable count is a primary metric, the pentadecasyllable remains a relatively rare form when considered as a discrete unit. Its presence is more often a consequence of a poem's overall structure rather than a defining characteristic of a specific genre or style.