- Verse Format:
Each poetic line should begin in the first space of a new line of braille. If a poetic line is too long for one braille line, the carry-over should begin in the third space of the next line. A blank line should be left before and after each stanza.
In the writing of poetry, if only the title and the first line of the poem (with its carry-over) would appear at the bottom of the braille page, the poem should begin on the next braille page.
If it is necessary to divide a stanza between two pages, the division should be made so that at least one poetic line (with its carry-over) appears at the top or bottom of the braille page, providing it is not the first stanza of the poem. (For special poetry format, see App. A. 2.)
- Prose Format:
>
(1) Line Sign: / : Ô > Use the line sign to represent the print mark which indicates the end of a poetic line, line of inscription, etc. When such are written in print in prose form, leave one blank cell preceding and following the line sign. The line sign may begin or end a braille line. List this sign on the special symbols page. (See App. A. 9.) Ex:
... finest lyric, To Althea from Prison (_Stone Walls doe not a prison make/Nor iron bars a Cage_), was written while he was paying the penalty for ...
''' f9e/ lyric1 ..,6,al-
!a f .,prison 7,8,/"o
,walls doe n a prison
make > ,nor iron b>s a
,cage0'71 0 writt5 :ile
he 0 pay+ ! p5alty = '''
16 They have mouths, and
speak not : eyes have they,
but they see not.
17 They have ears, and yet
they hear not : neither is
there any breath in their
mouths.
#af ,!y h m\?s1 & sp1k
n > eyes h !y1 b !y see
n4
#ag ,!y h e>s1 & yet
!y he> n > nei is "! any
br1? 9 _! m\?s4
(2) When an agency or braille publisher requires poetry, inscriptions, etc., to be transcribed in braille using prose form, insert the line sign to indicate the end of each complete line or print line of poetry, inscription, etc. Indicate the change of print format in a Transcriber's Note. After the completion of the poetry, etc., begin the following text on a new braille line.
- Numbered Lines:
For numbered lines, see Code of Braille Textbook Formats and Techniques, most recent edition.
These signs should be preceded and followed by a space. Where a foot sign occurs within a word, the hyphen, followed by a space, is used after the syllable ending the foot. Contractions may be used in scansion where stressed or unstressed syllables are not shown. List these signs on the special symbols page. (See App. A. 9.) Ex: