Proximate rhyme refers to rhyming sounds positioned in close proximity within a poem rather than separated by intervening lines. This includes adjacent line rhymes, internal rhymes in neighboring words, or other closely-spaced sound correspondences. The nearness of rhyming elements creates acoustic intensity and can produce effects from musicality to emphasis. Proximate rhyme differs from widely-spaced rhyme schemes in its immediate sonic impact, creating density rather than the more subtle echo of rhymes separated by distance. The close positioning draws attention to the rhyme and can create urgency, playfulness, or satisfaction through compressed repetition.

proximate rhyme|Rhyme that occurs close together in a poem, not necessarily at the line end; adds flexibility and variety.