The semicolon gives equal weight to the clause before and the one after.
For serial listing comma lovers, it’s a hiccup in between.
I don’t mind using semicolons; however, I’ve been told I do so incorrectly.
That one clause, remember it? A pause for punctuation?
The moment stretched into years.
That time he emptied his closet?
An independent clause of 15 years.
Semicolon.
Another independent clause?
The list of reasons he gave: I don’t want to be married anymore;
I don’t want to be married anymore;
I don’t want to be married anymore.
That’s not a list.
And this isn’t an indepence equal to the one before.
No semicolon necessary.
Except here: the eyes seeing me crease with love smiles;
large hands touch me as if I am holy and precious;
the woodpile will last for many, many winters.
Put Out to Pasture 