WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Refrains can be one line, or more lines, a few words, or a single word.

The wordage can vary.

A refrain can be repeated at regular intervals or irregular intervals.

A refrain can be used to escalate tension.

It can also add to the mood AND amplify emotion.

So now let’s take a look.

• Did you notice how the refrain was used to express emotion in this story poem?
• Did you notice that the refrain was set apart from the metrical rhythm of the stanza patterns? Can you do this? YES!
• Did you notice that the refrain at the beginning AND the end.
• Did you notice how this refrain varied in its phraseology?
• Did you notice how the Dum-da dum-da pattern is broken up. This makes it interesting to read.

Kids love repeated patterns. This brings them comfort. Helps them to predict what is coming next and builds confidence. When a child connects to a story, they learn new words and ways of using them.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

The galloping rhythm of anapests can give poems a jaunty and buoyant feeling. The use of the anapest becomes ideal for lighthearted limericks, children's stories, and jokes.

Compared with the heart-like beat of an iamb the anapest extends the duration between stresses, which in turn amplifies the stressed syllables to a greater degree.

One of the benefits of the anapest is the sing-songy (marching) rhythm.

One of the detriments of the anapest is the the sing-songy (marching) rhythm. 

To overcome the tediousness of this jog-trot meter, the writer will often swap out the anapest with the dactyl.

• Did you notice how the author did this in line 3 of the first stanza?
• Did you see it again in line 4 of the second stanza?
• Did you notice that the hard beats remain the same?

This metrical switch can keep a reader engaged. In fact, did you not feel like roaring with the last line in the second stanza? I did.

The anapest holds within itself the potential for great variety. It can be cheerful and light but also intense and suspenseful.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Meter is a term for rhythm in poetry.

The iamb is a (da- DUM) rhythm. Because of its even pacing it is often referred to as the heartbeat rhythm.

This is all very lovely but why exactly should we study rhythm? In poetry it’s all about. . .

• Capturing an emotional response.
• Elevating a piece of work.
• Heighten the pleasure of listening.
• Creating images.
• Invoking a mood.
• Painting with words.

Just like a heartbeat, iambs can lull you to sleep. Oh, what to do! Wait a minute!

Did you notice how this author chose to rouse us out of our boredom?

• With a few Spondees thrown in there.
• Inserting metrical variation.
• With a line of dialogue.
• Adding lines that rhyme with nothing! Yes, you can do that!

How did you react when you read that fourth line? Did you sit up like I did?

This delightful informational fiction book is worth a read. So childlike and fun!

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Everyone speaks, and everyone breathes while speaking. Such pauses come naturally from the rhythm of your speech. Poetry also uses pauses.

One such pause is known as “caesura,” often occurs in the middle of a line. But it can also appear at the beginning or end.

• Did you notice the caesura in middle of the second stanza?
• Did you feel yourself taking a deep breath as you read.

Caesuras are effective because they break the monotony. They force the reader to focus on the meaning behind the words.

Sometimes writers are concerned about their poem becoming too sing-songy. What can we do to wake us up? 

Metrical variation is the method best used. One great variation is the caesura. 

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Repetition reuses words, phrases, images, or structures multiple times.

Writers use this technique to emphasize something they find important. This could be a theme, a character’s characteristics, or the terrible, or wonderful, state of the world. In this way the meaning accrues through the repetition.

It can be used in any part of the poem. It does not have to be limited to the ending or beginning.

Repetition is a way to produce deeper levels of emphasis, clarity, and amplification.

This approach can also be employed to persuade. One famous example is the I HAVE A DREAM speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

If you want to write a poem with repetition, first think about the point you want to get across. Then experiment on how you can incorporate a repeated word, phrase, line, or stanza into your poem.

It is equally crucial to note that readers can experience repetition fatigue. Repetition can be overused.

But when done properly, it has great impact.

In this story poem the repetition is sprinkled throughout like a spice. And it is not always the same phrase. The author has handled this technique with proficiency.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

In poetry there is a rhythm to words. This is called the base meter. In the base meter the hard beats always stay the same. Rhythm makes it fun to read and easy to remember.

However, when it comes to metered poetry, rhythm is more important than the end rhyme.

Even in this area one can fall into a rut. It happens when the poem becomes sing-songy. Sing-songy means it's boring and tedious. To solve that problem we need, metrical variation.

Why do we want metrical variation?

• To change the pace of the poem.
• Force the reader to speed up or slow down.
• Emphasize certain words or phrases
• Introduce a refrain.
• Give the reader a surprise, something unexpected.

How do we achieve metrical variation? Here are a few examples. 

• Hypercatalectic is when one or two soft beats have been added.
• Catalectic is when one or two soft beats have been subtracted.
• There is also headless meter. This is when a soft beat is missing from the beginning of the line.
• And Truncated meter. This is when one or two soft beats are missing from the end of the line.

Did you notice in the lines above that the soft beat is missing at the end of each line, making it truncated? Maybe you didn’t notice. That’s because the soft beats are hardly missed.

The poem is lovely and well done.

In addition, this happens to be an informational picture book. You are being educated in the best way. Facts are woven in without our even noticing. Learning becomes fun. 

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Onomatopoeia indicates a word that sounds like what it refers to.

So why use onomatopoeia in your writing?

For example. You could say your house blew up. Or you could say my house went BOOM!

You could say you dropped the water balloon on the floor. Or you could say the water balloon went SPLAT.

In each of the second examples, the reader supplies the sensory effects with their own imagination. The imaginary world becomes their own.

• Did you notice how the words “Chooooo!” and “Chugga!” heightened the experience for the reader?
• Can you not hear your own child repeating these words? Perhaps over and over?
• Did you notice how it broke up the monotony of the iamb with fun, lively and playful words? 

Do you have a good WIP? Want to make it better than good? Why not insert some onomatopoeia. See what happens when you do.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Refrain is a verse, a line, a set, or a group of lines that appears at the end of a stanza, or appears where a poem divides into different sections. It originated in France, where it is popular as, refraindre, which means “to repeat.”

A refrain can include rhymes, but it is not necessary.

Ever heard a song on the radio and been unable to get it out of your head? It likely got stuck there because of the chorus. In poetry, the chorus is called a refrain. It helps a lot that this poem is set to actual music.

When a story becomes music, the child will ask for it to be read again an again. If the story is informational, then the information is reinforced.

• Did you notice that the refrain takes on more meaning.
• Did you notice that it builds like a crescendo and increases the poem’s drama.

Why not try writing a playful poem using facts and information. This makes learning fun. Which happens to be the best way.

In this story back matter is included.

Are you not intrigued by the title alone? I was!

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

A caesura is a pause that occurs within a line of poetry, usually marked by some form of punctuation such as a period, comma, ellipsis, or dash.

A caesura can be found anywhere after the first word and before the last word of a line.

So why would a caesura be a good idea in poetry?

• Sometimes it breaks the monotonous rhythm of a line. It is very easy to get into a rut when it comes to iambic meter.
• Sometimes it creates a dramatic or ominous effect.

1. Like for example did you notice the emotional and theatrical touch with the use of the word, UGH?
2. And also did you notice the feeling imparted by the word, CLOUDY? When I read this word, I almost wanted to raise my voice to vent the frustration this line implies.

Caesura is an effective technique when you want to add emotional layers. Plus, it’s fun!

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Refrain is somewhat different from repetition. Refrain is repetition of usually a line, a phrase, two or three lines, or even words in a poem.

Repetition, on the other hand, involves repetition of WORDS, PHRASES, SYLLABLES, or even sounds in a full piece.

Another difference is that a refrain in a poem may appear at the end of a stanza; however, repetition of words and phrases may occur in any line of stanza.

When a line or phrase recurs in a poem, or a piece of literature, the idea become memorable. This story starts out with the phrase Good Night. Yet the title is Good Morning! Are you not intrigued?

There are two types of repetition: exact and general. Exact repetitions refer to words or phrases that are repeated verbatim. These repetitions provide clarity and unity for the reader/listener because they give context to what is being said.

General repetitions include examples such as sentence structure or themes that are repeated throughout a text or argument. General repetitions provide a framework within which different ideas can be discussed. GOOD MORNING, SNOWPLOW is an excellent example of general repetitions. If you were to read the rest of this book you could easily see that the idea of what snowplows do while we are sleeping is repeated. 

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

The term enjambment comes from the French words jambe, meaning leg, and enjamber, meaning to straddle or step over. This is a literary device that allows the poet to compose a sentence that runs on to the next line before reaching a full stop. The lack of punctuation creates suspense and momentum.

• Did you notice that the reader feels propelled forward through the poem?
• Did you notice how these interruptions arouse uncertainty, an uneasy pause, encouraging readers to move to the next line. 

This is a wonderful book to read with your child snuggled in your arms.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

A couplet features two consecutive lines of poetry that typically rhyme and have the same meter. A couplet can be part of a poem or a poem on its own.

By distilling the main ideas of the poem into these brief two-line units, the poet creates more of an impact with the form.

Emotion, and tone all must be condensed into these units, making each word choice count.

• Did you notice the light stepped pace with these couplets?
• Did you notice the playful tone, as if tiptoeing into a room?
• Did you notice how both lines complete the one thought?
• Did you notice the image each couplet has created?

Why not take your current WIP and revise it to a couplet. Maybe a happy accident will occur!

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Vary or mix meter when you want to...

• Avoid a singsong cadence, which can become tedious after a while.
• Force the reader to slow down, speed up, pause, or stop.
• Emphasize certain words, phrases, or actions.

There are allowable ways to do this.

• Hypercatalectic: Where one or more unstressed syllables have been added
• Catalectic: Where one unstressed syllable is subtracted.
• Headless meter: Where one or more unstressed syllables is subtracted at the beginning of the line.
• Truncated meter: Where one or more unstressed syllables in the middle or at the end of the line
• A pyrrhus (pyrrhic foot) consists of two unstressed syllables. 

In this poem the author has chosen to capture your attention in the introduction. You stop. You pause. You take note. Now let's examine how this was done.

• First word is “Welcome!”
• This is followed by Look – I am here!
• The words LOOK and I’M are accented syllables meant to say "wake up, pay attention to me."
• The next line "excellent things we can do!" is part of the entry into the subject.

From then on, the rhythm shifts from the bouncy staccato introduction to the meat of the story. The author gives the reader a hug with words. A rumination of deep things, a list of personality features. We’re alike but we’re different too. And that is okay! We are drawn in.

I certainly found my inner child in this book. I think every child will find a bit of themselves too.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

The spondee is a metrical device where you put an equal amount of stress on each word. It is commonly used to change the pace of a poem. To add a heightened feeling or emotional experience. It adds expectancy and or excitement.

• Did you notice the use of the Spondee in the last line?
• Did you notice that the last line in the stanza rhymes with nothing?
• Children will catch on fast, and love repeating the line with you.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Alliteration is a literary device in which a series of words begin with the same consonant sound. 

• Alliteration is the repetition of sounds, not just letters.
• Alliterative words don’t have to be right next to each other. Other words can appear between them.
• Alliteration is found often in poetry and prose, as well as in commercial writing like brand names and marketing taglines.

The benefits of using alliteration in your writing is you make an idea stand out. It can emphasize something important.

Do you have a simple alphabet story? Want to make it pop? Try using alliteration. See what happens to your story when you do.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Internal rhyme occurs in the middle, or anywhere, in lines of poetry, except the end. It is a lyrical device.

• You can take a story that has saturated the market and make it stand out.
• You can take a good story and set it up a notch.
• Did you notice the musicality in this story?
• Did you notice the fun and hilarity factor?

So just go ahead and tell you story. Don’t be forced or constrained into a metrical pattern where the story is serving the rhyme. Add an internal rhyme or two here and there and see where it takes you.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Antanaclasis is a rhetorical device in which a phrase or word is repeatedly used, though the meaning of the word changes in each case. It is the repetition of a similar word in a sentence with different meanings, or a word is repeated in two or more different senses.

Antanaclasis helps in giving an exciting contrast with different meanings of the same word. It enhances the dramatic and persuasive impact of a piece of writing or speech.

• Did you notice the contrast of what the word yellow can be?
• Did you notice the contrast of the what the word lemonade cold be?
• Did you notice the repetition of the phrase yellow on green?

In this delightful poem you will also see how the Antanaclasis is used to create the passing of time and make the resolution dramatic.

I highly recommend reading this book to find out how the author has used this technique in wonderful ways. 

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Anaphora is a rhetorical device that features the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences.

This piques the interest of the reader immediately. In the case of this poem, we see that we are about to embark on a comical journey.

As a literary device, anaphora functions to emphasize words and ideas. Readers often remember passages that feature anaphora. This enhances a reader’s experience and enjoyment of language because it resembles music.

The anaphor is not limited to poetry but works well with prose and in speeches. In speeches it is done as a call to action and creates a powerful urgency in making a choice.

• Can you pick out the anaphora repetition in this stanza?
• Did you notice the anaphora does not have the same number of beats as the other lines?

The anaphora works great in concept poems. It can make your poem rise above the ordinary.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

List poems are perfect when trying to use rhyme in picture books.

• Did you notice the undramatic story arc.
• Did you notice the lists made?
• Did you notice the lyrical, rhythmical tone?

If you were to read the rest of this book you would notice it is not heavy in end rhymes. The rhyme is interspersed, like a flavorful spice.

This picture book poem does all the work of a story picture book. But it does more, it tells us how to be kind, in a believable and engaging way.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two non-similar things.

A Simile makes this same comparison by using the words "like" or "as." In fact, simile is a subset of a metaphor.

Metaphors are dependent on the combination of a principal term and a secondary term. The principal term conveys the concrete or literal entity, and the secondary term is used figuratively to add meaning. An effective metaphor eliminates the need for excessive explanation or description on the part of the writer.

This is useful for abstract images and concepts.

Have you ever found that words are not enough? Have you ever felt that there are no words to express how you feel?

This is where a metaphor/simile comes in. We use a metaphor/simile to conjure thoughts on what we see, taste, hear, smell and feel. How? It causes the reader to think about the “logic” or "truth" in such a comparison. These thoughts, in turn, may evoke emotion in the reader with the realization that the comparison is valid.

The metaphor/simile can pack a punch.

• Did you notice how the feelings of yellow and green are described in the next line?
• Did you notice how these simile's evoke an emotion or memory?
• Did you notice this poem was written with near rhymes? This is blank verse and is metered but not necessarily rhyming.
• This gives greater freedom to the poet.

You may have to think a little to find the meaning in a metaphor/ simile. Parent and child can do this while looking at the pictures and spending bonding moments together.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

This is a story of how the tide is like ballet, with each character appearing then disappearing.

We feel like we are watching theater with a theme, story and atmosphere.

But first a little introduction. Please allow me to digress.

Ballet is made up of gestures, movements, ebb and flow, in many ways like a tide.

The French phrasing has remained universal in ballet.

Ballet dancers across the world learn and can communicate with this universal ballet terminology.

How about using foreign words to infuse your poem with something rich and a taste of the unexplored?

Take your meter and rhythm away from the predictable.

You will of course need access to a good foreign language dictionary.

WHY DOES THIS WORK AND HOW CAN IT HELP YOU?

Do all picture books have to have a story structure? No. In fact, picture books work best when written in a poem structure. You are not forced into making a story serve the rhyme. Yet, the above poem is beautiful, is it not?

Are you not transported into a dream like world?

• Did you notice the poem is just exploring the sights and senses aboard a moonlight train?
• Did you notice the refrain at the end of each stanza?
• Poetry helps develop an awareness of language, phonic patterns, and rhythms.
• Poetry can transport children into delightful worlds of imagination and silliness.
• Children acquire a palate for beauty of the written word.

Why does this work and how can it help you?

An anapest consists of two unstressed syllables followed by on stressed syllable. An anapest can be a single word, two or three words. This stress pattern gives anapestic verse a light and nimble rhythm that evokes the galloping of a horse or the rolling of ocean waves.

Anapest can become very sing-songy and the reader easily bored and reading tedious. There is a fix to this problem. Enter the truncated/headless meter. What is a truncated meter? What is headless meter?

• Headless anapest is a first unstressed syllable that is missing or omitted.
• Truncated meter is a line of poetry that is missing a syllable in the middle or at the end of a line.
• Did you notice the headless meters in lines 1, 2. And lines 5 – 11?

Do you have a manuscript in anapest meter? Why not break it up? Insert a headless/truncated meter here and there and see what happens!

See if you can get your hands on this book. It is a delight!

Why does this work and how can it help you?

• Did you notice that the first stanza has near rhymes?
• Did you notice it holds its rhythm all the way through?

This concept book has more near rhymes than true rhymes. How can a rhyme crime such as this be published! However this is blank verse. Blank verse is metered but not have to rhyme. This story has a few near rhymes and a pure rhyme sprinkled here and there. 

A poignant story that in my opinion, is well done!