Cantilever Poem

This is a new form of poetry created by Sarah B. Royal. The concept of a cantilever in engineering or architecture is a projecting structure that is anchored at one end and free at the other—can be applied to poetry. It is a poem with a balancing structure, where one part extends or builds outward from a central anchor, much like a cantilever. The poem has lines or stanzas that stretches beyond the expected form or rhythm but remains “anchored” to a central theme or idea such as a poem that begins with a stable, grounded idea and expands into something more experimental or unexpected. A Cantilever poem explores the tension and balance between a stable, grounded foundation and an outward-reaching, experimental extension. For example, the “anchored” part might represent stability (such as reality, tradition, or order), while the “projecting” part explores creativity, chaos, or abstraction.
This can be a visual or shape poem, where the text on the page mimics a cantilever structure, with lines or stanzas visually extending outward.

Characteristics:

Thematic Balance:

One idea or section acts as the “anchor,” while the other reaches out into contrasting or exploratory themes.
Structural Play:

Line length, indentation, or enjambment might resemble the physical cantilever shape. Enjambment creates a sense of movement from the anchor to the projection.

Symbolic Extension:

The “free end” of the poem could symbolize freedom, risk, or creative exploration.

Cliff Hanger

Anchor me on solid ground,
with steady footing,

with ropes around—
but—

let me lean out,

as I outstretch my arm

past the cliff’s lip to reach the sky.

This metaphorically represents the cantilever concept, with the “anchored” section in the beginning and the “projecting” section expanding outward.

Alternative structure:

Anchor me on solid ground,

with steady footing,
with ropes around—
but—let me lean out,

as I outstretch my arm

past the cliff’s lip

to reach the sky.

Indented Lines Create a Cantilever Effect:
The left-aligned opening lines represent the anchored base, giving the impression of stability and support. The progressive indentation of the later lines visually conveys the extension outward, mimicking the projection of a cantilever.

Outward Extension:
The increasing indentation and shorter final lines (“past the cliff’s lip” and “to reach the sky”) give the illusion of the structure reaching its end point, balancing the tension between grounded stability and daring reach.
Emphasizing the “Lean”:
The indented lines visually “lean out” from the foundation, echoing the content of the poem while reinforcing the metaphor.

Alternative Structure:
If you want a more dramatic visual representation, you can arrange the words to cascade outward diagonally:

Anchor me
on solid ground,
with steady footing,
with ropes around—
but—
let me

lean out,
as I
outstretch
my arm
past the

cliff’s lip
to reach
the sky.

Benefits:
The visual structure mirrors the cantilever both thematically and physically, the indentation gradually deepens as the poem “leans out”, enhancing the poem’s meaning. It guides the reader’s eye, emphasizing the shift from security to aspiration. It reinforces the dynamic tension central to the poem’s imagery.