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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.

Examples

Percy Dearmer (1867–1936) revised John Bunyan's (1628–1688) poem "To Be a Pilgrim" in 1906. It became a popular hymn when Canon 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 relent

His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.


Who so beset him round with dismal stories

Do 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.

Internal rhyme schemes were extremely common in 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/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 T

You see, I got more clothes than Muhammad Ali and I dress so viciously

I got body guards, I got two big cars, I definitely ain't the whack

I got a Lincoln Continental and a sun-roofed Cadillac

So after school, I take a dip in the pool, which is really on the wall

I 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 while

If I were water, I'd flow in the Nile

So many rhymes you won't have time to go for yours

Just because of applause I have to pause
Right after tonight is when I prepare

To catch another sucker-duck MC out there

My strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe

And 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 prolific

In the beach bungalow is how I brung in Christmas

To the streets I'mma flow from the hungriest districts
Swiss kicks crisp when I come to them picnics
Play slow, paper chase stack and lay low
Range rove tinted all black the same old
Psychic mind, righteous rhymes that turned a new leaf from a life of crime

No concerns with new beef, who's as nice as I'm

It's confirmed, from few feet I'm still a sniper blind
Built my fame, spilt my pain

Politicking daily, still trying to milk the game

It's obvious that I'm real, rap skills remain

I 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 trespassin
Master gettin cash in an orderly fashion

Message to the fake n**** flashin

Slow up Ahk, before you get dropped and closed like a caption
Fractional kids don't know the time for action

Styles got the rhythm that of an Anglo-Saxon

Round of applause, an avalanche of clappin

{*BLOW*} that's what happen, now what's your reaction

We heavyweight traction, pro-pornographin

Specialize in science and math and, original black man

Bustin thoughts that pierce your mental

The fierce rippin your sacks and

Vocal toe to toe impeccable splittin your back son

Simple as addition and subtraction
Black Thought, the infinite relaxed one

Shorties say they love it with a passion

Bring the international charm, see a squad I harass

The Beatles use internal rhyme in their song Hey Jude.

Hey Jude, don't make it bad

Take a sad song and make it better

Remember to let her into your heart

Then you can start to make it better


Hey Jude, don't be afraid

You were made to go out and get her

The minute you let her under your skin

Then you begin to make it better

MF DOOM uses almost every word as internal rhymes in this verse in his song, "Figaro". (Rhymes highlighted)

It's too hot to handle , you got blue sandals
Who shot you ? Ooh got you new spots to vandal ?
Do not stand still , both show skills
Close but no krills , toast for po' nils , post no bills
Coast to coast Joe Shmoe's flows ill , go chill

Not supposed to overdose, No-Doz pills
Off pride tykes talk wide through scar meat
Off sides like how Worf rides with Star fleet

Kool Keith heavily utilises internal rhyme in his song "3000" to effectively throw off the listener.

As studies have shown; participator acts walk up, clog up

And mess up water down the sound that comes from the ghetto

In the middle the core you tour, explore experience

What is real you feel, changing ways

Commercial rap's in the grave, stuff on disc that's very wack

That you saved, you think it's good won't go platinum

Or even turn wood, sell the cassette

Your homey's tape deck gets wet

You my pet, my poodle chicken noodle's on the rise

Open your eyes and see my life

Rap moves on to the year three thousand!

See also

• Rhyme scheme

References