Final answer:
A caesura is a natural pause within a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation, which adds rhythm and emphasis to the reading of a poem.
Step-by-step explanation:
A caesura is a natural pause or break within a line of a poem, where the reader takes a breath. Unlike a line break, which is the end of one line and the beginning of the next, a caesura occurs mid-line and is often indicated by punctuation such as a comma, semicolon, or dash. The use of caesura can add rhythmic variety and can emphasize certain words or phrases, thereby enhancing the expressive quality of a poem. Understanding the role of caesura, along with other poetic devices such as meter and line breaks, is essential for analyzing the structure and delivery of poetry.
For example, in the line "Of Polacks nursing long beers in Titonsville, — I think," the dash signifies a caesura, indicating a pause in the flow of the poem. This pause enables the poem to convey a more complex rhythm and add emphasis where intended, contributing to the poem's overall meaning and emotional impact.