# Beez in the Trap \[identical rhyme\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** poetry, music\ **Created:** [February 22, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215 "2023-02-22T23:22:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/1 "2023-02-22T23:22:33Z")
She rhymes “nothing” with “nothing”. Is that considered legit? We are not even talking homophones or homonyms. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/2 "2023-02-22T23:26:17Z")
Well, since I have zero idea what this is about, or who “she” is, I vote for Not Legit. ps: Don’t listen to War Pigs (Black Sabbath, rhyming “masses” with “masses”). ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/3 "2023-02-22T23:35:10Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Well, since I have zero idea what this is about, or who “she” is, I vote for Not Legit. It’s about identical rhymes. Fair enough about “she” — it is sung by Nicki Minaj, but I do not know for sure who was ultimately responsible for the lyrics. > [@digs](#): > > ps: Don’t listen to War Pigs (Black Sabbath, rhyming “masses” with “masses”). It’s not the only one… [to invoke John Lennon] ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/4 "2023-02-22T23:38:28Z")
If there’s a fancy word for it, I guess it’s legit. > **[Epiphora Examples and Definition - Literary Devices](https://literarydevices.com/epiphora/)** > > Definition and a list of examples of epiphora. Epiphora is a form of repetition in which a word is repeated at the end of successive clauses or sentences. > **[Epiphora in Rhetoric: Repetition to Create Emphasis](https://www.thoughtco.com/epiphora-rhetoric-term-1690663)** > > The rhetorical term epiphora refers to the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses. Learn how to identify it and use it. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/5 "2023-02-22T23:40:42Z")
good collection of examples there! ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/6 "2023-02-22T23:50:15Z")
In our poetry classes in college, we called them identity (or identical) rhymes. And, yes, they are perfectly legitimate. Why wouldn’t they be? There’s all sorts of rhymes. From Emily Dickinson: > We paused before a House that seemed > A Swelling of the Ground – > The Roof was scarcely visible – > The Cornice – in the Ground – She also plays around with a lot of slant rhyme in that poem, “Because I Coul Not Stop for Death” ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/7 "2023-02-22T23:55:07Z")
Perhaps it’s better to call it a kind of repetition than a kind of rhyme? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/8 "2023-02-23T00:02:42Z")
From _The Kids Song_, by Moxy Früvous > [@](#): > > Hello, I’m Gabby and I just got here from Chile > I like Canada, except that it is chilly > I met Premier Bob Rae, > and he ain’t no Pinochet > My mother makes a spicy bowl of chili ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/9 "2023-02-23T00:27:32Z")
If it’s in the place where a rhyme is expected, for example, in a poetic form, then I’m fine calling it a type of rhyme. Searching a bit, I’ve discovered that in addition to identity rhyme and identical rhyme, it can also be called an auto-rhyme, self-rhyme, or a null rhyme. You also find them in some of Edward Lear’s limericks, like: > [@](#): > > There was an Old Man with a beard, > Who said, ‘It is just as I feared! > Two Owls and a Hen, > Four Larks and a Wren, > Have all built their nests in my beard!’ A lot of classical limericks do have identity rhymes in the first and fifth lines. There is also homophonic rhyme, as illustrated in the Moxy Früvous lyrics posted above. Or the famous opening of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” with: > Generals gathered in their masses > Just like witches at black masses Which I guess would be technically a homonymic rhyme, as well. Some people like to look down on rhymes like that as being “lazy” or something (I don’t know exactly what bee is up their bonnet), but I think it can be used quite well and is another “color” for a poet or lyricist to use. In the “War Pigs” case, I think it’s excellent. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/10 "2023-02-23T01:28:37Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > You also find them in some of Edward Lear’s limericks, like: > > > [@](#): > > > > There was an Old Man with a beard, > > Who said, ‘It is just as I feared! > > Two Owls and a Hen, > > Four Larks and a Wren, > > Have all built their nests in my beard!’ As parodied by John Clarke: > [@](#): > > There was an old man with a beard, > A funny old man with a beard. > He had a big beard, > A great big old beard, > That amusing old man with a beard. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/11 "2023-02-23T01:34:02Z")
Hahaha. That’s the kind of literary humor I enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/12 "2023-02-23T01:39:11Z")
Hey, Dylan did it with almost an entire line: _The answer my friend, is blowin’ in the wind_ _The answer is blowin’ in the wind_ mmm . . . . . . . . . . . . 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/13 "2023-02-23T02:18:37Z")
Haha. That’s a refrain of course. But, interestingly, he does do a sea/free/see rhyme in one of the verses, so there’s a bit of a delayed identical/homophonic rhyme there. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/14 "2023-02-23T13:51:40Z")
> [@digs](#): > > ps: Don’t listen to War Pigs (Black Sabbath, rhyming “masses” with “masses”). In a similar thread a few years ago, about bad or lazy rhymes, someone mentioned that rhyme, and someone else defended it as somewhat clever since they are two entirely different meanings for ‘masses’. I thought that explanation kind of held weight (or mass?). The award for ultimate dumb lazy identical rhyme I think has to go to Kid Rock’s ‘All Summer Long’: _We were trying different things_ _We were smoking funny things_ ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/15 "2023-02-23T19:14:21Z")
I would say it is lazy craft. Find a better rhyme or change the original word so they both work. W H Auden could do it in a trice! ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/16 "2023-02-23T19:32:35Z")
[By the way, rhyming “Homer” with “Homer” (chef’s kiss)](https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/82c4c4a5-e98c-40db-a5c6-7fa1dd7882b7) ETA: As to the song the OP mentions, I love that song and think it was way underplayed. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/17 "2023-02-23T20:20:31Z")
If it’s good enough for Emily Dickinson, it’s good enough for me. It’s such an odd thing to get all gatekeepy about. Why limit prosodic options? Do we get similarly upset at Robert Frost of just repeating the penultimate line at the end of “Stopping by Woods…”? ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/18 "2023-02-23T21:13:49Z")
I would still call it lazy. Emily Dickinson was hardly a skilled verse writer. Auden, Yeats, Pope, Tennyson, for example, wrote much better verse. I will admit though, that I don’t like Dickinsons stuff at all. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/19 "2023-02-23T21:23:08Z")
Well, this English lit major with a concentration in poetry thinks she’s fantastic. Poe does it in the Raven as well, as far as I remember. It’s another color of rhyme and can be used very effectively. There’s no bounds on poetry. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215/20 "2023-02-23T22:06:16Z")
I hear some poetry doesn’t even rhyme at all! Mind blown. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beez-in-the-trap-identical-rhyme/980215.md?page=2)