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I know Anaphora is repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses and Epistrophe is repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses.

But what would the figure of speech or poetic device be for repetition of a word or expression in the middle of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses?

For example:

Now we will count to twelve,
and we will all keep still.

This is from Pablo Neruda's Keeping Quiet.

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  • Anaphora has a different meaning in linguistics than it does in Greek litererary analysis. It refers to usage of pronouns, not noun repetition. Feb 22 at 16:50

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It is called mesodiplosis:

Mesodiplosis is the repetition of a word in the middle of each phrase or clause. For example,

One, but not two; three, but not four; five, but not six.” (LiteraryTerms)

Here is an example from the KJV:

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. (2 Cor. 4:8)

Here is one from Shakespeare:

But till that time
Come not thou near me.
And when that time comes,
Afflict me with thy mocks, pity me not,
As till that time I shall not pity thee. As You Like It, 3.5.39.

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