Jamie Jenson
Half-Caste by John Agard
John Agard’s poem ‘Half-caste’ is a poem that is, in a majority, filled with the speaker responding to being called half-caste.
Sailing to Byzantium by William Butler Yeats
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.
Blackberry-Picking by Seamus Heaney
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 by Robert Frost
‘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 by Percy Bysshe Shelley
‘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 by Anne Sexton
‘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 by William Shakespeare
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— by Rudyard Kipling
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.
Mad Girl’s Love Song by Sylvia Plath
‘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 by William Shakespeare
Read Shakespeare’s Sonnet 57, ‘Being your slave what should I do but tend,’ with a summary and complete analysis of the poem.
Invictus by William Ernest Henley
‘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.