In poetry, internal rhyme, or middle rhyme, is rhyme that occurs within a single line of verse, or between internal phrases across multiple lines. By contrast, rhyme between line endings is known as end rhyme. Internal rhyme schemes can be denoted with spaces or commas between lines. For example, "ac,ac,ac" denotes a three-line poem with the same internal rhyme on each line, and the same end rhyme on each line (which does not rhyme with the internal rhyme).

Examples

The following example is in limerick form. Each stressed syllable rhymes with another stressed syllable using one of three rhyme sets. Each rhyme set is indicated by a different highlight color. Note that the yellow rhyme set provides internal rhyme in lines 1, 2, and 5, and end rhymes in lines 3 and 4, whereas the blue set is entirely internal, and the pink is exclusively end rhymes. Each time Rosalie goes for a walk She well knows that her clothes are the talk Of the town, and it shows, But this gown will expose More than toes, so some shmoes gape and gawk. Percy Dearmer (1867–1936) revised John Bunyan's (1628–1688) poem "To Be a Pilgrim" in 1906. It became a popular hymn when Charles Winfred Douglas (1867–1944) set it to music in 1917. Here are Dearmer's lyrics, with the internal rhymes in bold. Notice that in these three quatrains the internal rhymes are also echoed in the line rhymes (also in bold). He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster, Let him in constancy follow the Master. There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim. Who so beset him round with dismal stories Do but themselves confound—his strength the more is. No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight, He will make good his right to be a pilgrim. Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit, We know we at the end, shall life inherit. Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say, I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim. W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) used internal rhyme in some of the songs of his operas. One notable example is that of Bunthorne's solo aria from the opera Patience, which begins: If you're anxious for to shine in the high aesthetic line As a man of culture rare, You must get up all the germs of the transcendental terms, And plant them everywhere. You must lie upon the daisies and discourse in novel phrases Of your complicated state of mind, The meaning doesn't matter if it's only idle chatter Of a transcendental kind. Internal rhyme schemes were extremely common in a popular song of the Swing Era. One familiar example is the bridge from "Don't Fence Me In", written by Cole Porter for the film Hollywood Canteen in 1944: Just turn me loose let me straddle my old saddle, Underneath the western skies, On my cayuse let me wander over yonder, 'Til I see the mountains rise. Internal rhyme is used extensively in rap and hip-hop music, where it sometimes overlaps with assonance. The usage of internal rhyme in rap has increased over time, but can be found even in the earliest rap songs, such as the Sugarhill Gang's 1979 single, "Rapper's Delight": I'm six-foot-one and I'm tons of fun and I dress to a T You see, I got more clothes than Muhammad Ali and I dress so viciously I got body guards, I got two big cars, I definitely ain't the whack I got a Lincoln Continental and a sun-roofed Cadillac So after school, I take a dip in the pool, which is really on the wall I got a color TV, so I can see the Knicks play basketball Internal rhyme is used frequently by many different hip-hop artists, including Kool Moe Dee, Big Daddy Kane, Nas, and Rakim, as demonstrated in Eric B. and Rakim's 1987 piece, "My Melody" from their debut album Paid In Full: My unusual style will confuse you a while If I were water, I'd flow in the Nile So many rhymes you won't have time to go for yours Just because of applause I have to pause Right after tonight is when I prepare To catch another sucker-duck MC out there My strategy has to be tragedy, catastrophe And after this you'll call me your majesty... Another prominent hip-hop artist who uses complex internal rhymes is AZ, as shown in "The Format": Young and gifted, my tongue's prolific In the beach bungalow is how I brung in Christmas To the streets I'mma flow from the hungriest districts Swiss kicks crisp when I come to them picnics Play slow, paper chase stack and lay low Range rove tinted all black the same old Psychic mind, righteous rhymes that turned a new leaf from a life of crime No concerns with new beef, who's as nice as I'm It's confirmed, from few feet I'm still a sniper blind Built my fame, spilt my pain Politicking daily, still trying to milk the game It's obvious that I'm real, rap skills remain I took some change and I'm still the same Black Thought, rapper from The Roots, uses internal rhymes in the song "Respond/React". The attractive assassin, blastin the devil trespassin Master gettin cash in an orderly fashion Message to the fake n**** flashin Slow up Ahk, before you get dropped and closed like a caption Fractional kids don't know the time for action Styles got the rhythm that of an Anglo-Saxon Round of applause, an avalanche of clappin {BLOW} that's what happen, now what's your reaction We heavyweight traction, pro-pornographin Specialize in science and math and, original black man Bustin thoughts that pierce your mental The fierce rippin your sacks and Vocal toe to toe impeccable splittin your back son Simple as addition and subtraction Black Thought, the infinite relaxed one Shorties say they love it with a passion Bring the international charm, see a squad I harass MF Doom uses almost every word as internal rhyme in this verse in his song, "Figaro". (Rhymes highlighted) It's too hot to handle, you got blue sandals Who shot you? Ooh got you new spots to vandal? Do not stand still, both show skills Close but no krills, toast for po' nils, post no bills Coast to coast Joe Shmoe's flows ill, go chill Not supposed to overdose, No-Doz pills Off pride tykes talk wide through scar meat Off sides like how Worf rides with Starfleet Kool Keith heavily utilises internal rhyme in his song "3000" to effectively throw off the listener. As studies have shown; participator acts walk up, clog up And mess up water down the sound that comes from the ghetto In the middle the core you tour, explore experience What is real you feel, changing ways Commercial rap's in the grave, stuff on disc that's very wack That you saved, you think it's good won't go platinum Or even turn wood, sell the cassette Your homey's tape deck gets wet You my pet, my poodle chicken noodle's on the rise Open your eyes and see my life Rap moves on to the year three thousand! Bad Lip Reading uses internal rhyme in their comedic song “My Stick”. I disappear for years then reappear right here to cheer about my cool stick…