Internal Strucure --> "The Dance" by William Carlos Williams

"The Dance" can be found on page 1009 of the Norton.

The structure of the poem is very much like the dance that it tells about. The poem starts with "In Brueghel's great picture, the Kermess", and ends with the same line. Most structured dances begin and end with the same movement, which ties the whole poem together. The middle of the poem is messy, with no distinct pattern for the lines. This reflects the style of dance, with the "squeal and blare and tweedle of bagpipes". The structure of the poem portrays the spastic motions of the dance. The "swinging butts" of the dancers also paints a picture for the reader. The structure of the poem, including the repition of a line at the beginning and end, as well as the disorganized middle, illuminates the style of dance portrayed in the painting.