In poetry, internal rhyme, or middle rhyme, is rhyme that occurs within a single line of verse, or between internal phrases across multiple lines.[1] [2] By contrast, rhyme between line endings is known as end rhyme.
Internal rhyme schemes can be denoted with spaces or commas between lines. For example, denotes a three-line poem with the same internal rhyme on each line, and the same end rhyme on each line (which does not rhyme with the internal rhyme).
The following example is in limerick form. Each stressed syllable rhymes with another stressed syllable using one of three rhyme sets. Each rhyme set is indicated by a different highlight color. Note that the yellow rhyme set provides internal rhyme in lines 1, 2, and 5, and end rhymes in lines 3 and 4, whereas the blue set is entirely internal, and the pink is exclusively end rhymes.
Each time alie for a She well that her are the Of the, and it,But this will exMore than, so some gape and .
Percy Dearmer (1867–1936) revised John Bunyan's (1628–1688) poem "To Be a Pilgrim" in 1906. It became a popular hymn when Charles Winfred Douglas (1867–1944) set it to music in 1917. Here are Dearmer's lyrics, with the internal rhymes in bold. Notice that in these three quatrains the internal rhymes are also echoed in the line rhymes (also in bold).[3]
He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,Let him in constancy follow the Master.There’s no discouragement shall make him once relentHis first avowed intent to be a pilgrim. Who so beset him round with dismal storiesDo but themselves confound—his strength the more is.No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.
Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,We know we at the end, shall life inherit.Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim.
W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) used internal rhyme in some of the songs of his operas. One notable example is that of Bunthorne's solo aria from the opera Patience, which begins:
If you're anxious for to shine in the high aesthetic lineAs a man of culture rare,You must get up all the germs of the transcendental terms,And plant them everywhere.You must lie upon the daisies and discourse in novel phrasesOf your complicated state of mind,The meaning doesn't matter if it's only idle chatterOf a transcendental kind.
Internal rhyme schemes were extremely common in a popular song of the Swing Era. One familiar example is the bridge from "Don't Fence Me In", written by Cole Porter for the film Hollywood Canteen in 1944:
Just turn me loose let me straddle my old saddle,Underneath the western skies,On my cayuse let me wander over yonder,'Til I see the mountains rise.
Internal rhyme is used extensively in rap and hip-hop music, where it sometimes overlaps with assonance. The usage of internal rhyme in rap has increased over time, but can be found even in the earliest rap songs, such as the Sugarhill Gang's 1979 single, "Rapper's Delight":[4]
I'm six-foot-one and I'm tons of fun and I dress to a TYou see, I got more clothes than Muhammad Ali and I dress so viciouslyI got body guards, I got two big cars, I definitely ain't the whackI got a Lincoln Continental and a sun-roofed CadillacSo after school, I take a dip in the pool, which is really on the wallI got a color TV, so I can see the Knicks play basketball
Internal rhyme is used frequently by many different hip-hop artists, including Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, and Rakim, as demonstrated in Eric B. and Rakim's 1987 piece, "My Melody" from their debut album Paid In Full:
My unusual style will confuse you a whileIf I were water, I'd flow in the NileSo many rhymes you won't have time to go for yoursJust because of applause I have to pauseRight after tonight is when I prepareTo catch another sucker-duck MC out thereMy strategy has to be tragedy, catastropheAnd after this you'll call me your majesty...[5] [6]
Another prominent hip-hop artist who uses complex internal rhymes is AZ, as shown in "The Format":
Young and gifted, my tongue's prolificIn the beach bungalow is how I brung in ChristmasTo the streets I'mma flow from the hungriest districtsSwiss kicks crisp when I come to them picnicsPlay slow, paper chase stack and lay lowRange rove tinted all black the same oldPsychic mind, righteous rhymes that turned a new leaf from a life of crimeNo concerns with new beef, who's as nice as I'mIt's confirmed, from few feet I'm still a sniper blindBuilt my fame, spilt my painPoliticking daily, still trying to milk the gameIt's obvious that I'm real, rap skills remainI took some change and I'm still the same
Black Thought, rapper from The Roots, uses internal rhymes in the song "Respond/React".
The attractive assassin, blastin the devil trespassinMaster gettin cash in an orderly fashionMessage to the fake n**** flashinSlow up Ahk, before you get dropped and closed like a captionFractional kids don't know the time for actionStyles got the rhythm that of an Anglo-SaxonRound of applause, an avalanche of clappin that's what happen, now what's your reactionWe heavyweight traction, pro-pornographinSpecialize in science and math and, original black manBustin thoughts that pierce your mentalThe fierce rippin your sacks andVocal toe to toe impeccable splittin your back sonSimple as addition and subtractionBlack Thought, the infinite relaxed oneShorties say they love it with a passionBring the international charm, see a squad I harass
The Beatles use internal rhyme in their song "Hey Jude".
Hey Jude, don't make it badTake a sad song and make it betterRemember to let her into your heartThen you can start to make it better Hey Jude, don't be afraidYou were made to go out and get herThe minute you let her under your skinThen you begin to make it better
MF Doom uses almost every word as internal rhyme in this verse in his song, "Figaro". (Rhymes highlighted)
It's, ? ?, but,,, Not through how with
Kool Keith heavily utilises internal rhyme in his song "3000" to effectively throw off the listener.
As studies have shown; participator acts, And mess up water the that comes from the In the the you, enceWhat is you, ing Commercial in the, stuff on disc that's very That you, you think it's won't go inumOr even turn, sell the Your homey's tape You my, my chicken on the Open your and see Rap moves on to the year three thousand!