Poetry Rhythm 101

The word poetry comes from the Greek word ποιεω (poieo) which means I create. It is a form of art which is used as a form of literature expression. An important element of poetry is rhythm. Most of the time rhythm of each line is arranged in a certain meter, except free rhymes.  Rhyme at the end of lines is made up of common poetic forms such as ballads, sonnets and rhyming couplets. But the use of rhyme is not universal. So basically rhyming is a key ingredient to writing poetry.

Though there are different types of rhymes, the one I'm going to focus on today is internal rhymes. Internal rhymes, or middle rhymes, are rhymes that occur in the line of a single verse. For example, I went to town to turn his frown. The words town and frown rhyme making that line an internal rhyme.

Sometimes it can be hard to notice the rhyming words within a poem, because they don't have to be extremely noticeable, but reading your poem out loud is a helpful way to make sure the sounds and rhythm flow.

Below is an example of an internal rhyme poem that I've written for the day. Read it and try to see if you can find the lines with internal rhymes. Then write your own internal rhymes.

Delta Gamma

I was once lost in my sea of life, 

hoping praying I would find my sight. 

I searched and searched but nothing felt right, 

so I looked some more with all my might.  

I knew it was out there, 

I just didn't know what.

What was I searching for? 

What did I want? 

As time went on I wanted to give up,

But I kept on Hoping I'd soon get luck. 

Then one day my ship hit land

And I finally found a precious gift at my hand.

A group of sisters who make me belong,

Girls who will honor everything we stand on.

Girls who will defend me even when I'm wrong,

And pick me back up to the place I belong. 

 I can't describe what I have found. 

 It's more than just a home, 

Or a sense of belonging.

It's more like a rope, 

That will never be unbound.

For Hope, for Strength, I'm anchored for life.

<3