Use of Refrain in Poetry

In this article, we discuss the use of refrain in poetry.

Refrain refers to a technique of repeating lines, words or phrases for a rhythmical effect.

This technique is especially useful if you want to break from the metrical patterns of including a specific number of syllables in each line.

To understand this aspect of poetry, I picked up my Bible.

“Bible?” you are probably saying, “You must be kidding me!”

I am not kidding. There is actually poetry in the Bible. Grab your Bible if you don’t believe me. If you don’t have one, go to your pious neighbour and ask for his.

For this lesson, I’ll use the King James Version.

Turn to Psalm chapter 136.

To begin with, let us read the first three verses:

O give thanks unto the LORD; for [he is] good: for his mercy[endureth] for ever.

O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy [endureth]for ever.

O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy [endureth]for ever.

What do you notice about these three verses?

Firstly, the expression O give thanks… is repeated in all three verses. Let us isolate this expression and analyse the pattern of repetition:

O give thanks unto the LORD

O give thanks unto the God of gods

O give thanks to the Lord of lords

Notice that the first three words of each line are repeated exactly. But the rest are repeated with slight variations:

…unto the LORD

…unto the God of gods

…to the Lord of lords

The concluding line in each verse is repeated exactly: for his mercy[endureth] for ever.

In fact this line is repeated in all the twenty-six verses of this chapter.

This is an excellent example of the use refrain in poetry.

Now let us read the next four verses:

To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy [endureth]for ever.

To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy[endureth] for ever.

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for hismercy [endureth] for ever.

To him that made great lights: for his mercy [endureth] forever:

Let us isolate the first lines of each verse and take a closer look at their repetitive patterns:

To him who alone doeth great wonders:

To him that by wisdom made the heavens:

To him that stretched out the earth above the waters:

To him that made great lights:

Again these lines are repeated, but with slight variations. Verses 10, 13, 16 and 17 repeat the same pattern.

But now you are probably thinking…

But what really is the point of using refrain?

Well read the rest of the verses from verse 10. By the time you are done, the line: “…for his mercy endureth forever” is stuck in your head is that not so?

It follows therefore that if you want to emphasis a certain thought to the extent where it sticks in the minds of the readers, and they remain thinking about it long after reading, refrain is a good technique! And isn’t it true that verses written using this technique are hard to forget? Certainly!

Remember too, that this psalm, along with all the others, were written to be sang. This pattern of refrain serves well for music as it has that undeniably powerful rhythm to it. And the line: …for his mercy endureth for ever may well have been the chorus.

See how powerful and useful a technique refrain is?

Okay, away from the Bible now. Let us try and compose our own poems with refrain and see how useful that can be us.

Look at the poem which I just composed below:

I never knew the meaning

When she stared at me so passionately,

When she called my name affectionately;

When all I wanted was to be with her,

Perpetually stand by her side,

Forever listen to her caressing voice.

I thought I was chosen

An awesome thing it appeared to be

Forever in her warm company.

But her affection came with a price;

A price I now pay

As my life suffers diminution

On this death bed enshrouded in silence.

Did you sense any repetitive pattern in the above poem? Probably not. What effect did it have on you as you read?

Okay now let us employ some refrain. Let us repeat the first line: I never knew the meaning at regular intervals:

I never knew the meaning

When she stared at me so passionately,

When she called my name affectionately.

I never knew the meaning

When all I wanted was to be with her

Perpetually stand by her side

Forever listen to her caressing voice.

I never knew the meaning

Because I thought I was chosen,

An awesome thing it appeared to be;

Forever in her warm company.

Yes, I never knew the meaning,

’Cause her affection came with a price;

A price I now pay

As my life suffers diminution

On this death bed enshrouded in silence.

I never knew the meaning.

Okay, how did you find the poem now? Did you sense any rhythm now? Most certainly! And I am sure it now sounded more interesting.

Have you see how power a tool refrain in poetry is?

Good, excellent!

I am now certain that you are dying to try it yourself. Take up that pencil of yours and write down a few verses. Try to repeat a line or a phrase and see what difference it makes in your poem. I know you will like it!

Note: Though you are allowed to use refrain without any apparent structure (repetend refrain), I’d rather you use a discernable pattern to reinforce rhythm. Feel free to even repeat a whole stanza, or verse (burden refrain).

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