W3 – 11-12-25

II. Shaun’s prompt guidelines

I’m generally a rhymer having long been a lyricist but do like experimentation too. In these busy times I’m also a fan of brevity. So for today’s prompt let’s try a poem that utilises internal rhyme where possible and keep the length between 8 and 16 lines.

Below is a helpful guide exploring different types of internal rhyme — feel free to use any (or several!) in your poem.

 What is Internal Rhyme?

Internal rhyme is a rich poetic device that creates musicality within a line or across lines. Here are several types, with clear explanations and examples:

1. same-Line Internal Rhyme

Definition:
Rhyme occurs within a single line.

Example:
I went to town to buy a gown.
I took the car and it wasn’t far.

town / gown, car / far occur inside their own lines.

2. Middle-to-End Rhyme

Definition:
A word in the middle of the line rhymes with the end word.

 3. Multi-Word / Compound Internal Rhyme

Example (Poe, “The Raven”):
Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary.

dreary (middle) → weary (end)

Definition:
A phrase or combination of syllables rhymes with another phrase or word.

Echo / Repetitive Rhyme

Definition:
Repeating similar sounds to create a musical echo (not necessarily exact rhyme).

Example:
The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew. — Coleridge

blew / flew echo each other.

5. Enclosed Internal Rhyme

Definition:
Two rhyming words frame a phrase within the same line.

Example:
The sound of the hound was all around.

sound / hound frame “of the”.

 6. Chain Internal Rhyme

Definition:
A rhyme links across several lines, creating a chain.

Example:
He found the key beneath the tree,
The tree that grew by the sea,
The sea that roared with mystery.

Lkey → tree → sea → mystery
(rhyme echoes across lines)

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Jim was always slim, as he went to the gym, not on a whim – it was just “him”.

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W3 Prompt #185: Wea’ve Written Weekly