Jamie Jenson Poetry Expert

Jamie Jenson

Jamie joined the Poem Analysis team back in November, 2010. He has a passion for poetry and enjoys analysing and providing interpretations for poetry from the past and present.

Digging

Here is an analysis of the poem ‘Digging’ by Seamus Heaney. Heaney was an Irish playwright, poet, and academic; he

When Death Comes

Here is an analysis of the poem When Death Comes by American poet Mary Oliver. Oliver, a highly beloved and

Images

Here is an analysis of the poem ‘Images’ by English writer and poet Richard Aldington. Born Edward Godfree Aldington, he

Half-Caste

John Agard’s poem ‘Half-caste’ is a poem that is, in a majority, filled with the speaker responding to being called half-caste.

Human Rights’

Here is an analysis of the poem Human Rights’ by David Chalk. The majority of Chalk’s poems are political in

Sailing to Byzantium

Yeats’ poems are continually referenced in popular culture, including the poem ‘Sailing to Byzantium’. Its first line, “That is no country for old men…” was used for the title of Cormac McCarthy’s popular novel, “No Country for Old Men,” later adapted for the big screen.

Song of the Open Road

‘Song of the Open Road’ by Walt Whitman appeared in what many scholars deem one of the most influential poetry texts of

Perfection Wasted

Here is an analysis of John Updike’s poem Perfection Wasted, which appears in The Collected Poems of John Updike (1953-1993).

Hawk Roosting

Hughes included ‘Hawk Roosting’ in his second book of poetry called Lupercal, which was published in 1960. Hughes was met

Praise Song For My Mother

Here is an analysis of Grace Nichols’ poem ‘Praise Song For My Mother’.  Nichols was born and raised in Guyana,

Sonnet 43: How do I love thee?

‘How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways,’ or ‘Sonnet 43’ is one of Browning’s most famous poems. She is a renowned Victorian

Casehistory: Alison (Head Injury)

Ursula Askham Fanthorpe, who wrote ‘Casehistory: Alison (head injury),’ was an Oxford-educated English poet. Fanthorpe held a variety of miscellaneous positions,

Blackberry-Picking

In ‘Blackberry-Picking’ the speaker is recalling a recurring scene from his youth: each August, he would pick blackberries and relish in their sweet taste.

Acquainted with the Night

‘Acquainted with the Night’ by Robert Frost is a personal poem that deals with themes of depression. It’s told, perhaps, from the poet’s own perspective.

Ozymandias

‘Ozymandias’ is about the nature of power. It is an important piece that features how a great ruler like Ozymandias, and his legacy, was prone to impermanence and decay.

Courage

‘Courage’ by Anne Sexton conveys the different ways in which a person can show courage, ranging from the seemingly insignificant to the much more heroic.

Sonnet 116

Sonnet 116: ‘Let me not to the marriage of true minds’ by William Shakespeare is easily one of the most recognizable sonnets of all time. It explores the nature of love and what “true love” is.

If—

Many people consider ‘If—’ to be one of the most inspirational poems ever written. It is certainly a poem that has garnered a great deal of attention in popular culture.

The Paradoxical Commandments

Here is an analysis of Kent M. Keith’s poem The Paradoxical Commandments. This is a wildly popular poem that has

On Turning Ten

Here is an analysis of a poem by American poet Billy Collins called ‘On Turning Ten’. This is a coming-of-age

The New Colossus

Here is an analysis of Emma Lazarus’ poem ‘The New Colossus’, which is a sonnet that has inspired countless Americans. In

Mad Girl’s Love Song

‘Mad Girl’s Love Song’ by Sylvia Plath explores the truth of a relationship. The speaker wonders how deep and meaningful it really was.

Sonnet 57

Read Shakespeare’s Sonnet 57, ‘Being your slave what should I do but tend,’ with a summary and complete analysis of the poem.

The More Loving One

The poem ‘The More Loving One’ was written by Wystan Hugh Auden, better known as W.H. Auden, in 1957. This is

Invictus

‘Invictus’ is W.E. Henley’s most famous and inspirational poem, that resonates with people worldwide. He wrote the poem in 1875 and dedicated it Scottish flour merchant named Robert Thomas Hamilton Bruce.

The Best-Kept Secrets of Poetry

Discover and learn about the greatest poetry ever straight to your inbox

Discover and learn about the greatest poetry, straight to your inbox

Start Your Perfect Poetry Journey