It has been shown throughout history that most remembered poems have a certain rhythm to them. When many people remember a poem, its rhyme and beat are usually apparent.

Poetry is a kind of musical speech, it is based on rhythm. Poems with a strong rhythm are made up of stressed and unstressed syllables. They follow a style of pattern depending on what kind of poetry it is. However, whenever rhythm is used, it is important to have variations of the lines, or else it begins to sound mechanical (unless you wish for your poem to sound mechanical, of course). To read up more about rhythm, please visit our links section.

The following is an example of a poem that uses rhythm, written by one of my classmates.

Open Your Smile
By Maritza

Your hair, your smile, your face
Annoy me in every way
Your opinions and your thoughts
Are overdone each day

It is not your place to say
What is always on your mind
Most people don't even care
And it's your back they talk behind

Do you think people actually like you?
Do you think they actually care?
About your family or your future
Or the way you've done your hair

Well they don't, and I don't either
Why can't youi recognize
That the world doesn't revolve around you
And it's you that I despise

God! You make me so angry
With every fit you throw
Just shut up and sit down
Because I want to let you know

Beware of my fake smile
And if you think I'm your friend
What a surprise it will be for you
When you find out in the end

And now I'm left to watch
As you treat others like dirt
Yet I'm ready to defend
Anyone you're bound to hurt

Your hair, your smile, your face
Annoy me in every way
But now I just anticipate
Your inescapable dooms-day