Caesura
A caesura is a pause or break within a line of verse, where the metrical flow is temporarily interrupted. Derived from the Latin verb caedere (‘to cut’), it can occur at various positions: at the beginning (initial caesura), middle (medial caesura), or end (terminal caesura) of a line, contributing to the rhythm and emotional effect of the poem.
Nightfall
—falling silent.
The stars—drifting lost in time.
As earth sleeps in wait of—
This poem effectively uses all three types of caesura:
Initial caesura
The dash at the beginning creates a pause before the thought begins, emphasizing the sudden arrival of night.
Medial caesura
The dash mid-line gives a breath before the description continues, enhancing the drifting sensation.
Terminal caesura
The final dash leaves the line open-ended, reinforcing the sense of anticipation for the coming dawn.
In addition one might use a visual caesura of spacing or line breaks instead of dashes or a double caesura, two pauses in one line, creating a staggered rhythm.

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