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.

Everyone's Screaming by Kenn Nesbitt
Everyone’s Screaming
The Principal Is Missing
Online Christmas by Kenn Nesbitt
Online Christmas
Dragon's Birthday by Kenn Nesbitt
Dragon’s Birthday
November is Upon Us by Kenn Nesbitt
November Is upon Us
I Played a Game
My World Is Turning Downside-Up by Kenn Nesbitt
My World Is Turning Downside-Up
My Lunch Gave Me a Tummy Ache
Rules for School by Kenn Nesbitt
Rules for School
I Went to a Wishing Well
I Tried to Play Soccer by Kenn Nesbitt
I Tried to Play Soccer
My Mother Drives Me Everywhere
You Can Argue with a Tennis Ball
You Can Argue with a Tennis Ball
Busy Jack by Kenn Nesbitt
Busy Jack
The Cough
I Wrote This Little Poem
Sing a Silly Dancing Song by Kenn Nesbitt
Sing a Silly Dancing Song
Invisible Monsters
My Senses All are Backward
I’m Counting the Days until Christmas
Liverwurst Pie
Liverwurst Pie
I Built a Big Building
I Got a New Game for My Brother by Kenn Nesbitt
I Got a New Game for My Brother
I Tried to Ride a Skateboard

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