跨行连续（Enjambment）

在英语诗歌里，经常会出现一个句子、短语或思想从上一行延续到下一行的情况，这种行间的“转移”被称为“跨行连续”。

When a sentence, phrase, or thought moves from one line to the next without stopping.

比如：

From Song from Chartivel

Marie de France (1155-1189)

Hath any loved you well, down there,1

Summer or winter through?2

Down there, have you found any fair3

Laid in the grave with you?4

’s death’s long kiss a richer kiss5

Than mine was wont to be–6

Or have you gone to some far bliss7

And quite forgotten me?8

……

第3行和第4行出现了跨行连续。

上述行间连续的处理除了保持句子语法结构的完整之外，一般也是为了满足该行诗歌与其他行的押韵，以及保持不同行间的节奏和韵律的工整。在这里，第3行末尾的“fair” 和第1行的末尾“there” 押韵。跨行延续的处理也保障了本诗歌第3行为抑扬三步调。

另见伊丽莎白•巴瑞特•布朗宁的《我如何爱你》例诗：

How do I Lve thee

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. 1

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height 2

My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight 3

For the ends of Being and ideal Grace. 4

I love thee to the level of everyday’s 5

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.6

I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;7

I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.8

I love thee with a passion put to use 9

In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.10

I love thee with a love I seemed to lose 11

With my lost saints, — I love thee with the breath, 12

Smiles, tears, of all my life! — and, if God choose, 13

I shall but love thee better after death. 14

这首诗歌由14行组成，但由于不符合十四行诗歌的“韵式”（见后面的英语诗歌诗体一章）所以不能被称为“十四行诗歌”（Sonnets）。这首诗歌的韵式为：” a-b-b-a-a-b-b-a-a-a-a-a-a-a”, 在第5行和第6行使用了行间连续：

I love thee to the level of everyday’s 5

Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.6

这样的处理使得第5行押“a” 韵。