Jose Olivarez’s poem (citizen) (illegal) uses the repetition of the words citizen and illegal to create a haunting cadence. Willie Perdomo’s poem “Where I’m From” also uses repetition to expertly evoke feelings of place in those who might recognize their own experience in his lines while also Ā calling out to a listener who does not know where he is from.
Though every poem is its own invention, the idea of repetition is traditional. Ā It may even feel too Ā “easy” or natural to be a poetic form. Oral histories recited by bards in ancient and classical eras used repetition and rhyme to stimulate memory. Song lyrics have always relied on hooks and repetition to keep the listeners engaged.
Here is a definition of repetition as a poetic form: Repetition: From a Poet’s Glossary
