Parataxis

CRAFT TERM

Oct 26

Written By The Poetry Lab

Parataxis is a literary technique that has to do with how clauses are placed together or juxtaposed in writing.

via The Poetry Lab

Example

excerpt from “Frequently Asked Questions: 10” by Camille T. Dungy:

I’ll have to sweep up or ignore. My father —
who I am thankful is still alive — says We could use
a different kind of seed. A simple solution. We want that
brown bird with the shock of red: the northern flicker

Prompt

Free write for 10 minutes, using the prompt of “I remember when…”

Using your free write, shorten some of your lines and stitch them together to create a poem that utilizes parataxis.

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Featured

Kris Kaila

is a Queer Punjabi Canadian poet, writer, book reviewer & blogger. Her poetry & nonfiction has been published in The Poetry Lab Resource Center, Harness Magazine, Usawa Literary Review, Salt & Citrus, in three anthologies by Beyond the Veil Press and in a forthcoming anthology by Read or Green Books. Kris volunteers with The Poetry Lab, Beyond the Veil Press and Crow Collective.

Find her on Instagram @krisesque_life | 📚 Read More by Kris