Poetic Confluence

This paper is an exploratory sociological analysis of poetic confluence, a spontaneous telepathic phenomenon that occurs in everyday social interaction. In one person’s talk exhibits enigmatic relationship to another’s unstated thoughts or imagery at moment. The analyses draw from empirical approach called Conversation Analysis, formal qualitative method for the naturally occurring interaction life. talk-in-interaction analyzed as coordinated and sequentially organized action. focus on action orientation informs this analysis, treating confluence form data are (unavoidably) anecdotal accounts experiences. Although techniques Analysis cannot be applied reports, its methodological principles substantive can inform systematic data. A case made robustness via recurrent properties found examples three corpora candidate cases. identifies interpersonal functions confluence: role restoring mutual attention; affiliative, affective function; mechanism managing threats propriety, keeping “face.” discussion, alternative skeptical explanations assessed; framed terms Cardeña’s (2019) observations metaphoric quality some psi phenomena Carpenter’s (2012) first sight theory, suggestions offered further research phenomena.