Repetition

Definition: continuous use of a word, phrase, or line in a poem


Example:

It's Raining by Elaine Magliaro

It’s raining…

Raining all around. 

It’s raining puddles 

On the ground. 

It’s raining 

On my booted feet. 

It’s raining 

Rivers in the street. 

It’s raining cats. 

It’s raining dogs. 

It’s raining ponds 

For polliwogs. 

It’s raining 

Drop by drop by drop…

A billion trillion— 

It won’t stop! 

It’s raining buckets 

From the sky. 

Don’t think the earth 

Will EVER dry.

Significance: Repetition of words can change the feel of the poem. By at first repeating a word constantly you lower the amount of energy and importance of those lines because you leave the reader with expectations, but if you then stop repeating the word you add a new found importance to the line. Repetition also creates a sort of beat. A rhythm to how it's read.