Poem vs. Rhyme — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on October 24, 2023
A poem is a composition in verse, often expressing emotions or stories, while a rhyme is a correspondence of sound between words or endings of words.
Difference Between Poem and Rhyme
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Poem and Rhyme, though closely linked, represent different aspects of literature. A poem is a piece of writing, often employing verse and meter, that conveys emotion, depicts a scene, or narrates a story. Rhyme, on the other hand, concerns the repetition of similar sounding words, typically at the end of lines in poetry or songs.
Poems can be varied; they might be long or short, narrative or abstract, free verse or structured. They captivate readers by employing various literary devices, including metaphor, simile, and alliteration. While many poems utilize rhyme as one of their tools, not all do; rhyming is not a mandatory feature of poems.
Rhyme, in contrast, is more specific. It's a tool or device that poets and lyricists use to add musicality, rhythm, and memorability to their compositions. The use of rhyme often provides a pattern, making poems or songs more engaging and easier to remember. A rhyme scheme can be simple, like the AABB pattern, or more complex, like the ABAB pattern.
In essence, a poem is the broader category, an artistic expression in words. Rhyme is a technique, a particular way of aligning words by sound. While many poems employ rhyme to enhance their beauty and rhythm, it's just one of many tools in a poet's repertoire.
Lastly, it's worth noting that while all rhymes can be found in poems, not all poems have or require rhymes. The beauty of a poem can exist with or without the presence of rhyme, depending on the poet's intent and style.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A piece of writing expressing emotions or stories
Repetition of similar sounding words
Part of Speech
Noun
Noun (also a verb: to rhyme)
Role
Expressive composition
Literary tool or device
Dependence
Can exist without rhymes
Often exists within poems
Structure
Can have varied structures and forms
Refers to sound pattern only
Compare with Definitions
Poem
A creation that conveys a vivid story or scene.
The narrative poem recounted an ancient battle.
Rhyme
The repetition of sounds in words, especially at the end of lines in poems.
The rhyme between moon and soon added a melodic touch.
Poem
A literary piece that employs meter and possibly rhyme.
The poem followed a strict iambic pentameter.
Rhyme
A short verse or poem, especially for children.
She recited a nursery rhyme to the baby.
Poem
A composition in verse, often expressing deep emotions.
Emily Dickinson's poem captivated the audience.
Rhyme
A harmonious or matching quality in words or phrases.
The lyric had an internal rhyme that was quite catchy.
Poem
An artistic expression using words for aesthetic effect.
The imagery in the poem painted a serene landscape in the reader's mind.
Rhyme
The pattern of rhyming words in a poem.
The sonnet had a traditional ABABCDCD rhyme scheme.
Poem
A verbal composition designed to convey experiences, ideas, or emotions in a vivid and imaginative way, characterized by the use of language chosen for its sound and suggestive power and by the use of literary techniques such as meter, metaphor, and rhyme.
Rhyme
A rhyme is a repetition of similar sounds (usually, exactly the same sound) in the final stressed syllables and any following syllables of two or more words. Most often, this kind of perfect rhyming is consciously used for artistic effect in the final position of lines within poems or songs.
Poem
A composition in verse rather than in prose
Wrote both prose and poems.
Rhyme
Correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when these are used at the ends of lines of poetry
Poetic features such as rhythm, rhyme, and alliteration
Poem
A literary composition written with an intensity or beauty of language more characteristic of poetry than of prose.
Rhyme
(of a word, syllable, or line) have or end with a sound that corresponds to another
Balloon rhymes with moon
Poem
A literary piece written in verse.
Rhyme
Correspondence of sounds at the ends of words or phrases, especially when involving the last stressed vowel and all succeeding sounds in each of two or more such words or phrases.
Poem
A piece of writing in the tradition of poetry, an instance of poetry.
Rhyme
A word that exhibits such correspondence with another, as behold and cold.
Poem
A piece of poetic writing, that is with an intensity or depth of expression or inspiration greater than is usual in prose.
Rhyme
A poem or verse employing such correspondence as a formal feature, especially at the ends of lines.
Poem
A metrical composition; a composition in verse written in certain measures, whether in blank verse or in rhyme, and characterized by imagination and poetic diction; - contradistinguished from prose; as, the poems of Homer or of Milton.
Rhyme
Poetry or verse of this kind.
Poem
A composition, not in verse, of which the language is highly imaginative or impassioned; as, a prose poem; the poems of Ossian.
Rhyme
To form a rhyme.
Poem
A composition written in metrical feet forming rhythmical lines
Rhyme
To compose rhymes or verse.
Poem
A written expression of imaginative or elevated thoughts.
The poet's new poem discussed the cosmos and our place in it.
Rhyme
To make use of rhymes in composing verse.
Rhyme
To put into rhyme or compose with rhymes.
Rhyme
To use (a word or words) as a rhyme.
Rhyme
Rhyming verse (poetic form)
Rhyme
A thought expressed in verse; a verse; a poem; a tale told in verse.
Rhyme
(countable) A word that rhymes with another.
Rhyme
A word that rhymes with another, in that it is pronounced identically with the other word from the vowel in its stressed syllable to the end.
Rhyme
(uncountable) Rhyming: sameness of sound of part of some words.
Rhyme
(linguistics) rime
Rhyme
(obsolete) Number.
Rhyme
(ambitransitive) To compose or treat in verse; versify.
Rhyme
Of a word, to be pronounced identically with another from the vowel in its stressed syllable to the end.
Rhyme
(reciprocal) Of two or more words, to be pronounced identically from the vowel in the stressed syllable of each to the end of each.
Rhyme
To somewhat resemble or correspond with.
Rhyme
To number; count; reckon.
Rhyme
An expression of thought in numbers, measure, or verse; a composition in verse; a rhymed tale; poetry; harmony of language.
A ryme I learned long ago.
He knewHimself to sing, and build the lofty rime.
Rhyme
Correspondence of sound in the terminating words or syllables of two or more verses, one succeeding another immediately or at no great distance. The words or syllables so used must not begin with the same consonant, or if one begins with a vowel the other must begin with a consonant. The vowel sounds and accents must be the same, as also the sounds of the final consonants if there be any.
For rhyme with reason may dispense,And sound has right to govern sense.
Rhyme
Verses, usually two, having this correspondence with each other; a couplet; a poem containing rhymes.
Rhyme
A word answering in sound to another word.
Rhyme
To make rhymes, or verses.
There marched the bard and blockhead, side by side,Who rhymed for hire, and patronized for pride.
Rhyme
To accord in rhyme or sound.
And, if they rhymed and rattled, all was well.
Rhyme
To put into rhyme.
Rhyme
To influence by rhyme.
Hearken to a verser, who may chanceRhyme thee to good.
Rhyme
Correspondence in the sounds of two or more lines (especially final sounds)
Rhyme
A piece of poetry
Rhyme
Compose rhymes
Rhyme
Be similar in sound, especially with respect to the last syllable;
Hat and cat rhyme
Rhyme
A word that corresponds in sound to another word.
Finding a good rhyme for orange is challenging.
Common Curiosities
What's an example of a poem without rhyme?
Many of Walt Whitman's poems, like those in "Leaves of Grass," are written in free verse without consistent rhyme.
Can prose pieces contain rhyme?
Yes, while less common, prose can have rhyming elements for stylistic effects.
Is rhyming limited to poetry?
No, rhymes are also commonly found in songs, jingles, and other compositions.
Does every poem need to have a rhyme?
No, many poems, especially in modern times, are written in free verse without rhyme.
Is a rhyme scheme indicative of a poem's quality?
No, a rhyme scheme is a stylistic choice, and a poem's quality depends on various factors.
Why do poets use rhyme?
Rhyme can add rhythm, musicality, and memorability to a poem.
What's the difference between end rhyme and internal rhyme?
End rhyme occurs at the end of lines in a poem, while internal rhyme occurs within a single line.
What is a rhyme scheme?
A rhyme scheme is the pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem.
Can a poem rhyme without a set meter?
Yes, it's possible to have rhyme without a consistent meter.
Are there different types of rhymes?
Yes, there are various types like end rhymes, internal rhymes, slant rhymes, and more.
Can a poem be just one line?
Yes, it's called a monostich, though it's less common.
Can rhyme enhance a poem's memorability?
Yes, rhymes often make poems or lines easier to remember.
Why do some poets avoid rhyme?
Some feel it can be restrictive, or they may aim for a more natural or conversational tone.
Is "rhyme" also a verb?
Yes, to rhyme means to have or end with a sound that corresponds to another.
Are there poems that play with the absence of rhyme?
Yes, some poets intentionally avoid rhyme to create specific effects or moods.
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
