Abstract

The paper explores the structure of time in lyrical discourse. It is argued that the lyrical time strives towards transcending its own nature, and likening itself, at least in some respects, to eternity. Five strategies of such an assimilation are discussed. Those are (1) cyclization of the time; (2) claiming that two contradictory events happen at the same time; (3) rendering time ‘vacuous’, devoid of events; (4) clusterization of referents; (5) the use of iterative verbs with characterizing meaning. All of the listed artistic devices are to be found prevalently in those fragments where the discovery of the most significant truth occurs, hence they may be viewed as very exquisite foregrounding markers. This point is elaborated with reference to a selection of 100 poems.