In its literal sense, braid describes the twisting together of strands into a single decorative or functional form. In poetry, it often names a compositional method in which distinct elements are entwined to create texture and continuity. It suits craft language because it conveys pattern, linkage, and skilled making.

Braid is frequently used to describe braided or interwoven poetic forms, in which multiple narrative or thematic strands alternate throughout a poem, gaining resonance through their juxtaposition and eventual convergence; this technique is common in contemporary lyric essays and hybrid poetic forms, and instructors often distinguish braiding from simple juxtaposition by emphasizing the sustained, patterned alternation of distinct strands rather than a single contrast; braiding is also a useful metaphor for discussing multilingual or multicultural poetry, where different linguistic or cultural threads are interlaced within a single work.