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Use Of Enjambment In Thomas Lux's A Little Touch

589 Words3 Pages

Thomas Lux’s use of enjambment in his poem, “A Little Touch” allows an invocation of a variety of reactions with each line. Each line creates conflict with the next line, resulting in a change of ideas. As the reader progresses through this body of work, he or she indulges in a thought process filled with ideas that seem limitless. Lux utilizes a skilled use of enjambment to bring forth the effectiveness of dark humor and rather a dark irony. Moreover, the poem’s structure presents a rhyme scene that leads its readers rapidly through moments of time. Overall, this well-crafted, free verse poem provides a grandiose view of the life cycle of teeth as it relates to the progression of life (Kirszner, & Mandell, 2017). Beginning with the milestone of a baby growing “a tooth, then two, / and four, and five” illustrates …show more content…

Such representations provide the reader with a quick association with multiple aspects of life. Moreover, the enjambments, along with the wording of Lux’s poem remind the reader not to take life for granted, because in the blink of an eye, milestones become memories. Moving through the poem, Lux illustrates through word association that following rapidly guides readers through a child’s infancy, associated with baby teeth. Next, the reader rapidly engages in the view of toddler years, associated with learning words. Progressing into teenage years, and on into young adulthood, Lux illustrates that “she’ll fall / in love with cretins, dolts, a sweets / talker on his way to jail” (Lux, 1989, lines 4-6). Then Lux associates a mother and father with their child’s life idiocrasy’s and quick decisions by including, “And you, / your wife, get old, flyblown, and rue nothing” while reminding the reader that as parents that through love and dedication they did what they could to raise their child right (Lux, 1989, lines

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