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.

My Legs Both Understand Me
This Poem's Not About a Dog by Kenn Nesbitt
This Poem’s Not About a Dog
Coal in My Stocking
Presently Surprised
My Purple Unicorn by Kenn Nesbitt
My Purple Unicorn
What to Remember in School
Today’s My Favorite Holiday
Thanksgiving Leftovers
Minecraft Mike
Toucan Can-Can by Kenn Nesbitt
Toucan Can-Can
Octopus for Lunch
My Smart Family by Kenn Nesbitt
My Smart Family
Crazy Over Vegetables by Kenn Nesbitt and Eric Herman
Crazy Over Vegetables
Don't Ever Bite Your Sister by Kenn Nesbitt
Don’t Ever Bite Your Sister
Something Under My Bed
My Brother's Insistent by Kenn Nesbitt
My Brother’s Insistent
My Kitten's Unable by Kenn Nesbitt
My Kitten’s Unable
I Went out Exploring by Kenn Nesbitt
I Went out Exploring
Lefty the Lifter poem by Kenn Nesbitt
Lefty the Lifter
Crash Bang Boom by Kenn Nesbitt
Crash! Bang! Boom!
My Ice Cream Is Melting by Kenn Nesbitt
My Ice Cream Is Melting
I Didn’t Go Camping
New Year's Day Promises by Kenn Nesbitt
New Year’s Day Promises
Spaghetti, Dear Spaghetti by Kenn Nesbitt
Spaghetti, Dear Spaghetti