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I’ll Say It Again (and Again and Again)

Today, my husband and I celebrate our wedding anniversary…26 years. Not bad for a couple who married in their 40’s (for the first time.) I think of how, in life, repetition plays a pivotal and useful role. In this case, the yearly event marking our marriage helps to keep love and commitment alive.

Cycles of the moon, seasons, birthdays, holidays—so many ways to add a little flavor to the unfolding of our lives, that are played out, for the most part, in ordinary times. And since poetry is such a reflection of life, repetition has a significant role to play there, too.

Here’s a definition that I found on a most helpful page on the Poetry Foundation’s website:

Repetition: The purposeful re-use of words and phrases for an effect. Sometimes, especially with longer phrases that contain a different key word each time, this is called parallelism. It has been a central part of poetry in many cultures. Many of the Psalms use this device as one of their unifying elements.

How about s a prime example from the first 9 verses of Psalm 136:

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

The psalmist certainly leaves no doubt as to the subject matter of his poem.

Photo: Michael Baird Labeled for Non-Commercial Reuse

Photo: Michael Baird
Labeled for Non-Commercial Reuse

Repetition can occur in a number of ways: a single word, a phrase, a sound, a line beginning or ending, or use of a refrain for example. The use of repetition creates intensity, unifies the poem, reinforces or takes the place of meter, adds emphasis and emotional response–just a few of the reasons to employ this useful technique.

So for today’s prompt I invite you to delve into the technique of repetition and bring it with you to the bar. I look forward to seeing what you come up with and if I’m a bit late—well, hey—it’s our anniversary.

If you are unsure how to join in:

Write your poem and post it on your blog or website

Copy the URL and copy/paste it in Mr. Linky at the bottom of this post

Return to the pub, read your fellow poets work and comment

Have fun. I say it again, HAVE FUN!

For dVerse Poets’ I’m Victoria–so happy to be your hostess this evening.