Poetry 101 What Is Enjambment in Poetry

Poetry is a structured literary form, with patterns and rhythms that dictate the flow of verses. Lineation in poetry is how lines are divided and where they end in relation to a clause or thought. Having a line break at the end of a phrase or complete thought is a regular and expected pattern in poetry. Poets subvert this expectation by using a technique called enjambment. Enjambment breaks with our expectations of where a line should end, creating a different feel to a poem.