poetic device: Alliteration

Alliteration is not when words start with the same letter but, rather, when the first stressed (or accented) syllable of two nearby words begin with the same consonant sound. This means that there are basically three types of alliterations:

  1. When nearby words start with the same consonants and the same sounds, such as “dancing dogs”, or “big boys.”
  2. When nearby words start with different consonants but the same sounds, such as “cats and kittens” or “jungle gym.”
  3. When nearby words start with different sounds, but have the same sounds at the beginning of their first stressed syllable, such as “normal banana” (which each have an “n” sound on the first stressed syllable) or “regular karate” (which each have an “r” sound on the first stressed syllable).

These poems include alliterations. Some may have just a single alliteration within the poem, while others may include dozens of alliterations.

Sylvester the Strongman by Kenn Nesbitt
Sylvester the Strongman
Benjamin Plays Bass Guitar by Kenn Nesbitt
Benjamin Plays Bass Guitar
Mr. Yes and Mr. No
While Lying On the Grass Today
Rudy Tude by Kenn Nesbitt
Rudy Tude
Rhonda Ray by Kenn Nesbitt
Rhonda Ray
My Kiwi Is the Captain
Gabby the Garbage Collector by Kenn Nesbitt
Gabby the Garbage Collector
Our Family Picnic
At Hamster Sam’s Rodeo
When Otto Got a Hot Dog by Kenn Nesbitt
When Otto Got a Hot Dog
Willie's Wart by Kenn Nesbitt
Willie’s Wart
Jim Sox by Kenn Nesbitt
Jim Sox
The Technobabylonians
The Technobabylonians
Terrible Dream by Kenn Nesbitt
Terrible Dream
Dizzy Dottie’s Dog Salon
We Give Each Other Cuckoo Clocks
Iggy Borborygmus by Kenn Nesbitt
Iggy Borborygmus
Going Nowhere Slowly by Kenn Nesbitt
Going Nowhere Slowly
When Daniel Went Dancing by Kenn Nesbitt
When Daniel Went Dancing
The Bagel Bird
To Learn to Juggle Prickly Pears by Kenn Nesbitt
To Learn to Juggle Prickly Pears
Sam Who Only Ate Jam by Kenn Nesbitt
Sam, Who Only Ate Jam
Bouncing Brianna