Rhyme is the correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words. It is one of the most recognizable features of poetry, though not all poems rhyme. When it works, rhyme creates a sense of pattern and completion. It makes language memorable.

Rhyme can be exact, like “cat” and “hat.” It can be slant, like “cat” and “cot.” It can be internal, within a single line, or external, at the ends of lines. It can be masculine (stress on the final syllable) or feminine (stress on the penultimate syllable). Rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines, usually labeled with letters. Children’s poetry relies heavily on rhyme because it helps with memorization and prediction. In serious poetry, rhyme can feel too neat, which is why many modern poets prefer free verse. But when used well, rhyme can surprise and delight.

Types

• Perfect: cat/hat
• Slant: cat/cot
• Internal: within a line
• Eye: looks alike but sounds different, like love/move