Polysyndeton
The emphatic repetition of conjunctions (most commonly 'and,' 'or,' 'but,' 'nor') at the beginnings of successive clauses, phrases, or lines, where standard usage would omit the conjunction or use it only once. The device produces a piling-on or accumulating effect distinct from anaphora (which repeats any word or phrase at line-beginnings) because the repeated element is specifically a conjunction, and the rhetorical effect is one of addition and overwhelm rather than thematic emphasis.
Creates rhythm, emphasis, and a mounting sense of frustration or overwhelm. The repeated conjunctions make each new clause feel like an additional burden or blow, producing a piling-on effect that mirrors emotional accumulation. Also creates a breathless, relentless quality as the speaker catalogues grievances or experiences without pause for resolution.
Appears in 1 song
Angela & Uncle Jerry identify the repeated use of 'and' at the beginning of successive lines in verse one, 'And your location,' 'and so I watch,' 'And pierce new holes,' 'and it hits me', as the literary device polysyndeton. Uncle Jerry explains it creates rhythm, emphasis, and a mounting sense of frustration, likening it to 'and another thing.' He notes it also appears in verse two ('And I may never open up,' 'And all of those best laid plans,' 'and it kills me'). He attributes the device to Elizabeth Barrett Browning as a practitioner.
The piling-on effect of polysyndeton mirrors the speaker's overwhelming frustration and the relentless accumulation of emotional injuries, each 'and' adds another blow.