by Lucy Ochoa-Petit ǀ @lucy_luisana

Rhyme is a polarising topic in poetry: writers either love it or hate it. Traditional poets argue that only poems that rhyme can be considered real poetry, while some contemporary poets think rhyming is cheesy or “old school”.

But using rhyme in poetry can be really fun. You can use rhyme to create repeating patterns that add structure, melody and beauty to your poem.

So what exactly is rhyme? Well, it’s a literary device where the final sound of two or more words is repeated. For instance, “lime” rhymes with “time”. There are many types of rhymes, but in this blog post we’ll cover three:

1. End rhymes are rhymes that occur at the end of a poem’s line.

2. Masculine rhymes occur when the last syllable of words match. This type of
rhyme only matches one syllable and this syllable is stressed or loud. For instance:

I want to write a book
and learn how to cook.

3. Feminine rhymes occur when the last two syllables of words rhyme. The second syllable is unstressed or softer and does the rhyming. For example:

I can feel the motion
of the wild ocean.

You can use rhyme to add structural symmetry and musical rhythm to your poetry, making your poems sound amazing when recited aloud. Rhyme is particularly useful in spoken poetry because rhyming patterns are easier to memorise.

If you’re a modern poet, you can make rhyme work for your contemporary style by using it sparingly. An unexpected rhyme can help you create emphasis and grab your readers’ attention.

One tip: don’t force the rhyme. If it’s not working or if it’s making your poem sound awkward, rearrange your lines and play with different words. Make Google, the dictionary and thesaurus your BFFs.

Most importantly, remember to get creative. Use rhyme in unexpected ways, experiment and have fun when trying new styles and poetic devices.

Lucy Ochoa-Petit ǀ @lucy_luisana


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