Does poetry for wedding readings have to rhyme?
So, you’ve decided that a bespoke poem will be perfect for your wedding reading – but you’re wondering about one thing – does the poem have to rhyme? The good news is you’re not alone; it’s a question that’s been debated for centuries, and in all honesty there’s no “one size fits all” answer. I completely get that this isn’t very helpful when you’re trying to decide what type of reading you want for your wedding, so I’ve put together a round of poetry rhyming facts to help you decide what will be right for you.
Why do poems rhyme at all?
Rhyme has been a big part of poetry pretty much since it began. Early poems were ways of passing on stories well before pen and paper were plentiful. Rhyme creates a memorable rhythm, which means the poems are easy to remember and recite around the campfire. Rhyme is a strong feature of more recent poems too, and writers like Shakespeare and Robert Frost use rhyme beautifully to create poems that people cherish. Many of the more structured forms such as sonnets or villanelles have rhyme at their core to create a sense of musicality, and enhance meaning. This poem by Pablo Neruda is one of my favourite sonnets about love.
One Hundred Love Sonnets: XVII - Pablo Neruda
I don’t love you as if you were a rose of salt, topaz,
or arrow of carnations that propagate fire:
I love you as one loves certain obscure things,
secretly, between the shadow and the soul.
I love you as the plant that doesn’t bloom but carries
the light of those flowers, hidden, within itself,
and thanks to your love the tight aroma that arose
from the earth lives dimly in my body.
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where,
I love you directly without problems or pride:
I love you like this because I don’t know any other way to love,
except in this form in which I am not nor are you,
so close that your hand upon my chest is mine,
so close that your eyes close with my dreams.
When to be cautious about rhyme
Rhyming can be good – brilliant in fact, if it’s used with skill and care. The downside is that a poorly rhymed poem, one where the rhyme is forced or unconvincing will jar and make the words sound like a trite nursery rhyme or limerick dashed off in a hurry. Rhyme can also sound a little outdated, and many contemporary poets follow the modern tradition of free verse. Instead of rigid rhyme schemes we use imagery, alliteration and rhythm to tell your story and create something memorable. Rhyme is present, but in a subtle way, say as a half rhyme, or in the middle of a phrase rather than at the end
That said, rhyme still has a place and I am more than happy to write something with a traditional rhyme if that is what you’re looking for. Part of our first consultation includes a question about what sort of style you’d like (don’t worry if you’re not sure, most people aren’t) and a big part of my service is working with you to make the poem sound fantastic which is especially crucial if it’s going to be one of your readings.
Like everything in my poet’s tool kit, I use rhyme to make the poem sing and clarify meaning. Above all, my priority is that the words I write tell your story in a unique and joyful way. Poetry is all about self-expression, and whether you rhyme or not, what really matters is the emotion and meaning behind your words.
Find out what I can write for you
If you’d like to discover more about the joy bespoke poetry can bring to your wedding readings, celebrations or those “just because” moments then do get in touch. You can use the contact form below, or email kathrynannawrites@gmail.com. You can read samples of my work too by following this link to my bespoke poetry portfolio, where you can see the types of poems I write as well as the prints I create for you.
Until next time
Kathryn
xx