Yes, in poetry and creative writing, poets often have the flexibility to manipulate word stress and syllable emphasis to fit the rhythm and meter of their verses. This technique is known as metrical variation or metrical flexibility.
In standard English, the words "something," "anything," and "everything" are typically stressed on the first syllable:
- SOME-thing
- AN-y-thing
- EV-er-y-thing
However, for poetic purposes, a poet might choose to stress the last syllable instead, as you mentioned, to create a different rhythmic pattern or to achieve a specific effect. This deviation from the usual stress pattern can add a sense of uniqueness, musicality, or emphasis to the verse.
For example, consider this line of poetry:
"Give me EV-er-y-THING or NOTH-ing at all."
In this line, "everything" is stressed on the last syllable, which creates a different flow and highlights the importance of the word "everything" in the context of the poem.
Remember that poetry allows for artistic expression and creative liberties, including variations in stress patterns, so poets often experiment with language to create the desired emotional and aesthetic impact.