Anapaest or anapest: An Anapaest (also spelled anapest) is a metrical foot comprising three syllables of which the first two are unstressed and the third is stressed. Example of Anapaest:
Like a child/ from the womb,/ like a ghost/ from the tomb,
I arise/ and unbuild/ it again.
(Shelley: "The Cloud")
The use of anapaest gives swiftness to the movement of the verse line in which it is used. Poets create the illusion of swift-movement and action by its use.