Trochaic meter is a rhythmic pattern in poetry characterized by a sequence of stressed and unstressed syllables. In this meter, each foot begins with a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed one, creating a "DUM-da" sound. This pattern can add a lively and dynamic quality to a poem, making it engaging for readers. Commonly used in various forms of poetry, trochaic meter can be found in works by poets like Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Alfred Lord Tennyson. It contrasts with other metrical patterns, such as iambic meter, where the order of stressed and unstressed syllables is reversed.