300 Goats

“300 Goats” is written in unrhymed free verse in 15 lines. The poem employs no formal meter or rhythmic pattern. The poem’s text is double-spaced, giving the impression it is composed of both one stanza and 15 separate stanzas (a stanza of a single line is called a monostich). While the spacing lends a feeling of isolation to the lines, they flow and connect to one another through frequent use of enjambment, or the syntactical continuation of one line or stanza to the next. In fact, the title itself is enjambed with the first line: “300 Goats / In icy fields” (Title - Line 1).

Though grammatically linked, the widely spaced and singular lines each make a strong impression by themselves, introducing a new image or idea in successive lines as the reader moves down the page. While the tone is largely informal and conversational, the structure commands formal attention.

The poem “300 Goats” makes liberal use of punctuation. If punctuation is considered a way to indicate pauses and stops—and in so doing, indicate breath—then the poet gives us a detailed map by which to read this poem.