Syntax

The orderliness of words in sentences

Phrases and clauses

The grammatical anatomy of words in sentences

To express meaning and convey feeling

An element of tone

And a guide to a state of mind

This poem explains

Explains this poem

 

The poem repeats itself unearthing emphasis

Varying lengths of lines radically

With normal word order

Short and long and vice versa

To give rhythmic regularity

Rhythmic regularity to give

This poem explains

Explains this poem

 

Inversions

The reversal of the standard order of words

Variations

In tempo among verses

Some sentences strongly stopped

With punctuation, with pauses

In contrast

Others with one stop

Others with no stop

One verse is one long sentence

The control of movement and speed

The pace

The pause

Using punctuation

Grammatical form

To magnify expression

To control intonation

This poem explains

Explains this poem

 

There are tonal shifts

Like an undulating sea

From emphatic dislocations

From monosyllabic and various diction

From frequent punctuation

Some like a pivot to balance statements

Some like lines of railways so parallel

And some like antonyms so antithetical

Possibilities

Syntax associative

Syntax broken

Syntax Latinate

Syntax tightly formal

Syntax balanced

Syntax antithetical

Syntax ambiguous

Syntax mimetic

This poem explains

Explains this poem

 

Note: This poem highlights what it says. The syntax is seen by inversion, repetition, varying lengths of lines, punctuation, and pauses.

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