Headless iamb question

[roetzheimw]

Simple question, but I can't find the answer anywhere (in books or on-line).

A single stressed syllable at the start of an iambic line may be treated as a headless iamb. No problem there.

Here's my question: If you have a multi-syllable word at the start of the line, where the first syllable is stressed, can that first syllable still be considered a headless iamb? For example,

ab/sence makes/
ab/solute/

Inquiring minds want to know!!!

WHR

[Harry R]

Slight oversimplification, but - as usual, word divisions are largely irrelevant to foot divisions.

So both those examples would be fine.

Harry

[Harry R]

examples from actual poems in this thread -

http://www.everypoet.org/pffa/showthread.php?s=&threadid=22683&poems

[roetzheimw]

Thanks Harry. It's a relief to finally have the answer!!!!

WHR