Line length in poetry

[milo]

The page blowing in the wind comes to mind as an example; this should be the longest line in the poem, stretching, "blowing" out to the margin. Long lines are fast and windy, and give the reader the Impression that the poet was swept away in a breeze of emotions, the vehicle of the muse, the oracle, if you will. A short line is slow and should a be compact poignancy that pacts a punch. Select your arsenal and arrange your weapons in accordance to their delivery.

(ahem) While not axiomatic, I believe the current general consensus is that short lines are faster and lighter while longer lines are slower and more somber.

If one line is one breath, then you must read through a long line more quickly, or you will run out of breath.
Of course a short line is over sooner, but a series of sort line is full of pauses; if the whole series were combined into one line, would it not run on, and leave you out of breath? And what is terse verse if not condensed language in slow, measured, yet economic delivery?

It is an effect I rarely use as it bores me so I am not that interested in defending one view point or another.

I think the line as a breath is more one line of ip is the equivalent of one average breath, shorter lines get more lines forced into the same space.

Anyway, like I said, I believe the current consensus is that shorter lines quicken the pace and longer lines slow it down but I have never really investigated the cause much myself. I prefer, as I am sure you are aware, using natural meter for those effects and letting the line end on the best word for emphasis (hopefully pointing back to the central metaphor)