I thought I loved enjambment. But I only learned as I was writing this that enjambment is ANY instance of a line break that occurs in the middle of a sentence (and with no punctuation, i.e. the line doesn’t end with a comma or semicolon or dash indicating a pause/break). How unfathomably boring! Is there a separate term for what I *thought* enjambment was–a line break or pause that creates a double meaning? i.e., one meaning is suggested by the first half of the line/sentence/lyric and then turned on its head by the completion of the thought? Like a periodic sentence, but more explicitly making a u-turn, not just saving the end of the sentence for emphasis.

The kind of thing I’m thinking of, lyric edition:

Rainer Maria (the 90s band, not the poet…IRONICALLY):

I want to go too far

away

places

(I want to go too far; I want to go too far away; I want to go to far away places)

-“Planetary”

Not tonight

Not ever again

Will I take it

Not tonight

Not ever again

For granted

(Not ever again will I take it; not ever again will I take it for granted)

-“CT Catholic”

Jonatha Brooke 

I am leaving because I love you

I am leaving because I don’t

And I am hoping you will follow

And I’m praying that you won’t

Let me go

(And I’m praying that you won’t let me go; and I’m praying that you won’t (follow me). Let me go!)

-“Linger”

Or: Instagram bio I saw somewhere:

Crazy (.) cat lady.

The enjambment version of fortunately/unfortunately?

She’s so mello…dramatic.

How are you doing? Oh, I’m great…ful that at least one thing is going well.

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