Internal rhyme is also used in "Turtle", but there are eight to fifteen syllables per line. In the poem, the choice of rhyme emphasizes important characteristics of the character. The author rhymes “four oars” with “allow” and “lottery” with “pottery,” so our attention is focused on these words (2-3, 12-13). This reminds us that the turtle is tough but fragile; nor does she place false hope in things that will probably never happen. By having more syllables per line, Ryan gives importance to the turtle's lack of power. The poem reads at a slower, more methodical pace than “Mockingbird” and has a feeling of gentleness that the latter poem lacked. The gentleness reveals the turtle's patience with his lot in life, but also seems to suggest the speaker's pity toward the reptile.