Enjambment is when a sentence continues from one line to the next, like a smooth ride on a swing.
Imagine you're reading a poem, and just as you're about to take a breath at the end of a line, the sentence doesn't stop, it keeps going! It's like when you're halfway down the slide and someone says, “Wait, let’s go all the way!” So instead of stopping, the words roll over into the next line.
Like a Story That Doesn’t Want to Pause
Think about your favorite storybook. If the sentence was ending right where you turned the page, it would feel like the characters were taking a break. But with enjambment, they're still talking, or running, or laughing, and you get to follow them right into the next line.
This helps poems feel more lively and flowing, just like when your favorite song keeps going without a pause between verses.
Examples
- The word 'running' is at the end of one line, while 'through the forest' starts on the next line.
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See also
- What makes a poem … a poem? - Melissa Kovacs?
- What is the difference between metaphor and simile?
- What is intertextuality?
- What is hook?
- Analogies, Metaphors, and Similes. What’s the Difference?