Assonance is a literary device characterized by the repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close to each other in a sentence or phrase. It can be used to create rhythm, mood, and emphasis in writing. Assonance can occur between the vowels of words (e.g., meat, bean) or between their consonants (e.g., keep, cape) . However, assonance between consonants is generally called consonance in American usage. Assonance is an important element in verse and occurs more often in poetry than in prose. It is particularly important in Old French, Spanish, and the Celtic languages. Examples of assonance in English poetry include "I never seen so many Dominican women with cinnamon tans" (Will Smith, "Miami") and "Dot my Is with eyebrow pencils, close my eyelids, hide my eyes. Ill be idle in my ideals. Think of nothing else but I" (Keaton Henson, "Small Hands") .