poetic device: Repetition

Repetition in poetry is when you repeat individual words, phrases, lines, or entire stanzas throughout the poem. Repetition gives extra strength or emphasis to the idea being repeated.

For example, you might start all of many of the lines of a poem with the same words, such as “I’ll never” or “I can’t wait for.” Or you might repeat a single line more than once to emphasize the point, as in the ending of Robert Frost’s poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” You can even repeat an entire stanza more than once; this is called a chorus or a refrain.

If you would like to write your own repetition poems, read this fun poetry-writing lesson.

All of these poems include repetition. Read a few and see if you like repetition in poems.

Our Magic Toilet by Kenn Nesbitt
Our Magic Toilet
Nicknames
Lost and Found by Kenn Nesbitt
Lost and Found
My Virtual Puppy
Tiny Todd the Turtle by Kenn Nesbitt
Tiny Todd the Turtle
Advice from Dracula
I Can't Wait for Summer
I Can’t Wait for Summer
Today I Got a Valentine
I'm Only Half a Werewolf by Kenn Nesbitt
I’m Only Half a Werewolf
I Slipped on a Banana Peel by Kenn Nesbitt
I Slipped on a Banana Peel
My Koala's Not a Doctor by Kenn Nesbitt
My Koala’s Not a Doctor
I Think I'd Like to Get a Pet by Kenn Nesbitt
I Think I’d Like to Get a Pet
I Stuck My Finger Up My Nose
My New Remote by Kenn Nesbitt
My New Remote
Pickle with Cheddar by Kenn Nesbitt
Pickle with Cheddar
Here's a Silly Poem by Kenn Nesbitt
Here’s a Silly Poem
Things You Don’t Need to Know
Dragon's Birthday by Kenn Nesbitt
Dragon’s Birthday
Chocolate for Breakfast by Kenn Nesbitt
Chocolate for Breakfast
My Sister Should Be an Explorer
I Tried to Play Soccer by Kenn Nesbitt
I Tried to Play Soccer
Valentine’s Day Card
Everyone's Screaming by Kenn Nesbitt
Everyone’s Screaming
Swinging from the Lights by Kenn Nesbitt
Swinging from the Lights