Envoi

/ɑːnˈvwɑː/ noun

Definition

A short closing stanza or message at the end of a poem, often addressed to someone specific.

Etymology

From French 'envoi,' meaning 'sending' or 'message,' derived from Old French 'envoyer' (to send). It was a specific poetic convention, especially in medieval French poetry.

Kelly Says

Medieval poets loved the 'envoi'—it's like a personal message tagged onto your poem! Today it's rarely used, but you'll see it in academic poetry analysis and formal verse. The word shows how poetry has its own vocabulary!

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