WoPoLi

Parallelism

Parallelism
Parallelism is the use of similar grammatical structures, phrases, lines, or patterns to create balance, rhythm, emphasis, or comparison. In poetry, parallelism makes language feel ordered and memorable by placing like structures beside one another.

Parallelism often includes repeated sentence shapes, matched phrases, balanced clauses, paired images, repeated beginnings, repeated endings, or similar line structures. It may be used for prayer, chant, praise, argument, lament, political speech, prophecy, song, or lyric intensity.

To write with parallelism, create two or more lines that share the same structure. Then change one important word, image, or idea in each line. The repeated structure gives the poem unity, while the changed words create movement.

What I Carried

I carried the bread to the table.
I carried the wood to the fire.
I carried the child upstairs.
I carried the dreams to my bed.

This example uses parallelism by repeating “I carried the…” at the beginning of each line. The repeated structure creates rhythm, while the changing objects shift the poem from ordinary action toward emotional weight.

Parallelism is a traditional poetic and rhetorical device. It may be used lightly in one pair of lines or heavily as the organizing structure of an entire poem.

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About the Author: Sarah B. Royal

Sarah B. Royal’s writing defies convention. Her poetry and prose traverse the boundaries between structure and spontaneity, often weaving together philosophical inquiry, cultural reflection, and personal narrative. With a background in experimental literature, she is known for crafting works that challenge readers to engage intellectually and emotionally.

Her acclaimed palindrome performance play, 777 – A Story of Idol Worship and Murder, showcases her fascination with mirrored storytelling and thematic symmetry. In o x ∞ = ♥: The Poet and The Mathematician, Royal explores the intersection of poetic intuition and mathematical logic, revealing a unique voice that is both analytical and lyrical.

Royal’s collections—such as Lost in the Lost and Found, Haiku For You, Lantern and Tanka Too, and the WoPoLi Chapbook Series—highlight her commitment to neurodivergent expression and poetic experimentation. Whether through childhood verse or contemporary fusion poetry, her work invites readers into a world where language is both a tool and a playground.

Sarah B. Royal continues to expand the possibilities of poetic form, offering readers a deeply personal yet universally resonant experience. Her writing is a testament to the power of creative risk, intellectual depth, and emotional authenticity.

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