What does syntax mean in poetry?

Answer 1

First let's define poetry:

scholarly work in which extraordinary force is given to the outflow of emotions and thoughts by the utilization of particular style and cadence; sonnets all in all or as a kind of writing.

In simple words poetry is writers expressing their feelings and thoughts, now the Syntax is the arrangement of words that are well-formed. Everything flows and rhymes together in poetry.

Example:

It was upon a Summers shynie day,

When Titan faire his beames did display,

She bath'd with roses red, and violets blew,

And all the sweetest flowers in that forest grew

see the syntax? it's a chain subject +verb + action

Answer 2

Syntax refers to word order. Often, a poet will break with the usual rules to draw attention to a particular aspect of the poem.

In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo asks, "What light through yonder window breaks?" The usual word order would be "What light breaks through yonder window?" In this case, at least part of the reason Shakespeare re-ordered the words was to make the rhythm fit into iambic pentameter. But might he also have been withholding the very strong verb "breaks" to make the phase more shocking?

Best wishes!