A poem is a special way of writing that plays with the sounds of words. Poems can sing, bounce and even tickle your ear.
What is rhyme?
Two words rhyme when they end with the same sound, like cat and hat, or tree and bee. The letters do not have to match, only the sound. So day rhymes with grey.
What is rhythm?
Rhythm is the beat you can feel when you read. Some words are said with a soft tap and some with a strong tap. When you clap along, you can hear the beat, just like in a nasheed.
What is a verse (stanza)?
A verse, also called a stanza, is a group of lines in a poem. Poems are often split into verses with a small gap between them, like paragraphs in a story.
The little rain came pattering down,
It kissed the thirsty ground.
It made the garden fresh and green,
Without a single sound.
Reading aloud with feeling
When you read a poem out loud, slow down. Pause at the end of each line. Say happy words brightly and quiet words softly. Let your voice show how the poem feels.
Rhyme is about SOUND, not spelling
This trips people up: the letters do not have to match, only the sound at the end.
| Pair | Do they rhyme? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| cat and hat | Yes | Same end sound, same letters |
| day and grey | Yes | Same end sound, even though the letters are different |
| cat and cap | No | They start the same, but the end sound differs |
Rhythm is different again: it is the beat you feel as you read, with some words landing as a soft tap and some as a strong one. Read a poem aloud and you will hear it.
Do these pairs rhyme?
- tree and bee
- day and grey
- cat and hat
- cat and cap
- tree and train
- bee and bear