The Newcomer’s Wife by Thomas Hardy
Thomas Hardy’s The Newcomer’s Wife explores the story of a newly married man listening in on a conversation about the
Jack Limebear
In Memory of My Mother by Patrick Kavanagh
Patrick Kavanagh’s ‘In Memory of My Mother’ is a reflection on the happy memories Kavanagh has of his mother after
We Refugees by Benjamin Zephaniah
‘We Refugees’ Zephaniah discusses the ease at which someone can be forced to leave their country, and the fact that we
Bump by Spike Milligan
‘Bump’ is a limerick poem that dispels fear of “things that go ‘bump’ in the night”. A limerick is a
Teeth by Spike MIlligan
‘Teeth’ is a comic poem in which Milligan pokes fun at the stereotype of English people, commonly considered to have
Feelings by Spike Milligan
Among a cannon of comedy, Spike Milligan’s ‘Feelings’ strikes slightly darker. The first two stanzas of the poem focus on
To My Nine-Year-Old Self by Helen Dunmore
‘To My Nine-Year-Old Self’ by Helen Dunmore illustrates a conversation between two versions of Dunmore, the child, and the adult.
A Silly Poem by Spike Milligan
‘A Silly Poem’ is exactly that, an almost frustratingly clever quip written by Milligan based on a line from Shakespeare’s
Sunday Dip by John Clare
Sunday Dip is a poem that reflects on the joy of childhood. Clare explores the idyllic period of childhood against
My Mother’s Kitchen by Choman Hardi
My Mother’s Kitchen is an anecdotal poem that explores the various items that a mother is handing down to her
Late Flowering Lust by John Betjeman
As suggested by the title, Late Flowering Lust explores the establishing of a sexual relationship between two people drawing near
A Minor Role by U.A. Fanthorpe
‘A Minor Role’ by U.A. Fanthorpe is a reflection on the role the poet has been forced to play within
I Remember, I Remember by Thomas Hood
I Remember, I Remember by Thomas Hood is a poem dedicated to the nostalgic embrace of the memory of childhood.
Delay by Elizabeth Jennings
Elizabeth Jennings’ Delay relies on the metaphor of starlight traveling to earth to explore the complexity and mishaps of love.
The Great Figure by William Carlos Williams
Classic to William Carlos Williams’ poetry, ‘The Great Figure’ is written in free verse without any punctuation. This modernist style is reflective of his inclusion in the Imagist movement.
Apology for Understatement by John Wain
‘Apology for Understatement explores two lovers, with one of them failing to find the words to express himself. He excuses
Au Jardin des Plantes by John Wain
‘Au Jardin des Plantes’ is a botanical garden in Paris which also contains a zoo. Within this zoo is a
Memory by Christina Rossetti
Rossetti’s Memory is a poem that explores the difficulty she faces in struggling with the connection between earth and heaven.
Photograph of Haymaker, 1890 by Molly Holden
The speaker of the Photograph of Haymaker, 1890 is looking at a picture of a man chopping wheat in a
Nothing To Be Said by Philip Larkin
Larkin’s ‘Nothing To Be Said’ pessimistically explores the slow, steady and inevitable aproach of death. To Larkin, life is meerly a prolonged death.
Myxomatosis by Philip Larkin
‘Myxomatosis’ by Philip Larkin is about a disease of the same name. It was introduced to the wild rabbit population in Britain in the mid-1900s.
Next, Please by Philip Larkin
In classic Philip Larkin style, ‘Next, Please’ is a bleak reflection on life. It explores death and asks the reader to focus on the present while they can.
After the Lunch by Wendy Cope
‘After the Lunch’ is an internal monologue taking place upon Waterloo Bridge after a first date. The poem is broken
