Question

Read the excerpt from "Constantly Risking Absurdity (#15)” by Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

Constantly risking absurdity
and death
whenever he performs
above the heads
of his audience
the poet like an acrobat
climbs on rime
to a high wire of his own making

How do the line breaks in this excerpt affect the poem’s meaning?

They reinforce the image of a performer swaying back and forth.
They emphasize the hesitation of the acrobat on the high wire.
They suggest that the speaker is unsure of what to say next.
They highlight the distance between the poet and the audience. is it a b c or d

Answer 1

D

The breaks and staggered spacing place the poet physically "above" the audience on the page, visually emphasizing the distance between the poet and those watching.