Glossary of Poetic Terms

A line in a poem is a set of words that ends for a specific reason, which may include rhythm, meaning, syllable count, pacing, or rhyme. The poet chooses where to break the line, which can make the words at the end feel more important. This break can highlight words and create a strong impact, which can be felt especially at the beginning of a line or a around pause within a line, known as “caesuras.”