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deferred rhyme

Rhyme
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A rhyme in which the expected rhyming word is delayed or postponed

Detailed Definition
Deferred rhyme is a technique in which the expected rhyming word is intentionally delayed—appearing later in the stanza, in a subsequent stanza, or replaced by a slant or near-rhyme—creating suspense, surprise, or psychological tension. Used by poets like Emily Dickinson and modern experimentalists, it disrupts predictable sonic patterns to mirror uncertainty, longing, or interrupted thought. For example, a line ending in “light” might not find its rhyme until several lines later, sustaining auditory anticipation. When used judiciously, deferred rhyme enhances emotional complexity; overuse, however, can weaken resolution and frustrate the reader’s expectation for closure.
Example
Example in poetry:
The wind howled through the pines all night— / A mournful, keening sound. / And though I waited for the dawn, / No answer came, but still I longed… for peace; She promised she would write to me, / But months have passed—no word, no sign. / I check the post each afternoon, / Hoping… for ink on paper fine; The clock struck twelve. The guests all left. / I stood alone beside the fire. / My heart kept asking, “Will he come?” / But midnight gave no… reply
Additional Notes
Deferred rhyme delays the expected rhyming word, creating suspense or surprise. It may appear later in the stanza, in a subsequent stanza, or be replaced by slant rhyme. Used by Emily Dickinson and modern poets to disrupt predictability. Students should use sparingly—overuse weakens resolution. Effective for themes of longing, uncertainty, or interrupted thought. Compare with suspended syntax in music.
Also Known As
delayed terminal echo postponed consonance suspended end-rhyme delayed rhyme Displaced rhyme
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