Rhyme

by Hla Min

Updated : July 2025

Element of Poetry

• Rhyme (or Kar Yan ကာရန်) is an essential element of Poetry.

Outer Rhyme

• In most English poems, the end of specific lines rhyme. Some Burmese will call them “Ah Pyin Kar Yan အပြင်ကာရန်”(Outer Rhyme).

Rhyming Patterns

• A B A B
  (where the first and third lines rhyme & the second and fourth lines rhyme).
• A B B A
  (where the first and fourth lines rhyme & the second and third lines rhyme).

Rhyming Dictionary

• I received “The Rhyming Dictionary” for taking part in the Debate held by RIT English Association.
• Sayas Des Rodgers, Sao Kan Gyi (GBNF) and U Khin were the judges.
• I gave the book to my mentor Ashin Ananda (Laureate Poet).

Inner Rhyme

Most Burmese poems use the “Ah Twin Kar Yan အတွင်းကာရန်” (Inner Rhyme).

For example,

o o o x
o o x o
o x o o
x o o y
o o y o

…

• The first rhyme (x) starts with the 4th position in the first line. It moves to the 3rd position in the second line, then to the 2nd position in the third line, and finally hits the 1st position in the fourth line.

• A second rhyme (y) can be started in the line where the first rhyme ended.

Differences in Style

• Some poets have their opinions & preferences. They may not strictly follow the rhyming rules. A few tend to use rhymes sparsely or not at all claiming that rhythm and ideas are sufficient ingredients of a Kabyar (poem).
• Dr. Nyunt Wai (Victor, SPHS63) wrote that moderate use of Kar Yan ကာရန် is acceptable, but excessive use of Kar Yan can transform a verse or poem into Ah Kar Ah Yan အကာ အရံ (secondary).