An "iamb" is a unit of speech or poetry that's made of one unstressed syllable plus a stressed syllable after it.
Examples:
" new YORK "
" ma DRID "
" that's IT ! "
" hel LO "
"Penta..." means "five", like in a "pentagon".
"Pentameter" means a line of speech or poetry that has five units in it, no matter what their form is.
"Iambic pentameter" is a line of speech or poetry that has five 'iambs' in it.
Example:
" to BE or NOT to BE that IS the QUES " (chun)
The lyrics (words) to the 'blues' are almost all Iambic Pentameter or close to it:
__ See that SPI der CRAWL in' UP that WALL
If you SEE me COM in', HEIST your WIN dow HIGH . If you SEE me COM in', HEIST your WIN dow HIGH . If you SEE me GO in', baby, HANG your HEAD and CRY.
It's been THREE weeks SINCE my sweet BA by SAID goodBYE . It's been THREE weeks SINCE my sweet BA by SAID goodBYE . And NOW my sweet DOG has EAT en ALLOF my sweet PIE .
