In drafting, a sprue is a temporary extension such as an extra stanza, explanatory passage, repeated image, or alternate ending. It feeds the poem while its shape is developing, even if the finished work no longer needs it. Keeping a sprue during composition can reveal the pressure and direction of the whole piece; cutting it later may improve speed and concentration. Sometimes a visible remnant is useful, especially when excess itself expresses overflow, obsession, or abundance.

A sprue is excess material left attached while a poetic form is being made. In a draft, it may be a placeholder phrase, repeated explanation, extra stanza, transitional sentence, or image that helped the poem develop but no longer belongs. Removing the sprue after the structure has set can improve clean edges and momentum. Save deleted material separately; it may become useful in another poem.