How Rhymes Work in a Poem

Rhymes are very important, especially when writing a poem. Poetry is an artistic expression of words to imbue its presentation with intensity and impact upon the reader or audience. Rhyme is one of the most important tools in creative writing as it allows authors to play with the tone and the delivery of their message. Rhyming words have the same audible sounds in its last syllable. Rhymes provide a rhythm and flow to poems. As in writing, the diversity of words, and the number of syllables direct the overall impact to the receiver.
Caged Bird
BY MAYA ANGELOU
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind   
and floats downstream   
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
The first stanza presents its contents without any rhymes. The emotions of the “Caged bird”, of somehow being stuck, is felt in the words of the poem. At the start of most of the lines which is the word “And”. It gives the poem a pause, and a moment for the reader to receive of the emphasis of each action. It gives the sense of freedom, that there are so much more things to do in the world.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and   
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
In the second stanza, the author began incorporating rhyming words in his verses. In this stanza, the word cage rhymes with rage, and this can be presented through enjambment. The words that were chosen by the author are tools to create impact upon the audience’s attentio...