By contrast, the stanza by Charlotte Mew is heterometric, meaning that the lines are of different lengths; in this case, of six, seven, eight and ten syllables. It is common, but not at all essential, for all the stanzas in a poem to follow the same pattern with regard to: 1  rhyme scheme. 2  number of lines. 3  the lengths of the lines in corresponding positions (for instance, first or last within the stanza)