rhymethe

Rhymethe is a theoretical term in poetics used to describe a pattern in which a poem's rhyme and its metrical cadence are woven together across multiple lines or stanzas to form a unified sonic field. The term is used primarily in scholarly discussions of prosody to account for how rhymes appear to propagate through sequences of lines beyond a single couplet or stanza boundary.

Typically, a rhymethe pattern combines end rhymes with internal rhymes, alliteration, or deliberate variations in stress that align with the poem's meter over successive lines. This creates the sense that the rhyme is not confined to one line but travels through the verse, shaping transitions between lines and stanzas.

Rhymethe has been applied in analyses of traditional ballads and songs as well as in contemporary verse where poets experiment with cross-line rhyming strategies. It is considered a descriptive device rather than a fixed form; various implementations share the aim of enhancing cohesion, musicality, and resonance through extended rhyme networks. Critics note that rhymethe can interact with cadence, pace, and rhetoric, influencing how listeners perceive movement and emphasis.

While it does not establish a single, prescriptive pattern, rhymethe provides a vocabulary for describing extended rhyming effects and for comparing different poets’ approaches to weaving rhyme through larger portions of a text.