40+ Poems about Confidence

I’m Nobody! Who are you?

by Emily Dickinson

‘I’m Nobody! Who are you?’ by Emily Dickinson reflects the poet’s emotions. It reveals her disdain for publicity and her preference for privacy.

The speaker is very confident in her opinion about wanting to avoid fame and everything that comes with it.

‘Each and All’ by Ralph Waldo Emerson depicts nature as interconnected and dependent on all other living and non-living things. The poet uses a few clever examples to demonstrate why he sees the world this way.

The speaker is confident in the epiphany he has at the end of the poem and his experiences throughout.

Life Sculpture

by George Washington Doane

‘Life Sculpture’ by George Washington Doane is a poem heavily symbolic poem about realizing one’s true potential and purpose in life.

The poem is meant to inspire a certain confidence in an individual, one that's fueled by their own skill as well as a faith that once their purpose in life is revealed, they'll be able to make it a reality.

Tell all the truth but tell it slant

by Emily Dickinson

‘Tell the truth but tell it slant’ by Emily Dickinson is one of Dickinson’s best-loved poems. It explores an unknown “truth” that readers must interpret in their own way.

The speaker is confident in her opinion about the truth and how to tell it, or not.

A Nation’s Strength

by William Ralph Emerson

‘A Nation’s Strength’ by William Ralph Emerson asks readers to consider what it is that makes a country great and why countries fail.

The speaker is entirely confident in their opinion about what makes a nation great (once they arrive at it, that is).

Character of the Happy Warrior

by William Wordsworth

‘Character of the Happy Warrior’ by William Wordsworth is a poem about what it means to be a “happy warrior” and what the elements of this kind of person’s life would be.

The poem's speaker is incredibly confident in the assertions they make. There is no doubt in their tone regarding what it takes to be a happy warrior and stay true to one's own morals.

Star-Fix

by Marilyn Nelson

‘Star-Fix’ by Marilyn Nelson is a poem that lionizes the noble role of the navigator onboard an aircraft.

One of the emotions the poem inspires in the reader is a sense of confidence, which permeates mainly from the speaker's idolization of the navigator. They are treated indirectly as a figure to aspire to but also as one self-assured in their own abilities. A necessity for someone so crucial to keeping the aircraft both airborne and on course.

Waiting

by John Burroughs

‘Waiting’ by John Burroughs is an interesting, powerful poem written by a poet born in the mid-19th century. It asserts his, or a persona’s opinion about his fate.

The speaker is entirely confident in his opinion about the future. He knows that he has good things ahead of him and isn't worried about making anything happen in his life.

Anne Rutledge

by Edgar Lee Masters

‘Anne Rutledge’ by Edgar Lee Masters is an epitaph based on the life of someone who knew and loved Abraham Lincoln in her youth.

The speaker is confident in her beliefs and her feelings for Abraham Lincoln.

Because I could not stop for Death

by Emily Dickinson

‘Because I could not stop for death,’ Dickinson’s best-known poem, is a depiction of one speaker’s journey into the afterlife with personified “Death” leading the way.

Dickinson's speaker considers her surroundings and the personified version of Death with confidence in this poem.

The Heart asks Pleasure – first

by Emily Dickinson

‘The heart asks pleasure first’ by Emily Dickinson depicts the needs of the heart. They are highly changeable and include pleasure and excuse from pain.

Dickinson is confident in her understanding of love and pain in this poem.

God Save the Flag

by Oliver Wendell Holmes

‘God Save the Flag’ by Oliver Wendell Holmes is a simple, optimistic, and passionate poem in which the speaker emphatically delivers his opinion on the United States.

The speaker is incredibly confident in his opinion of the United States, feeling the country is the greatest source of stability, justice, and mercy in the world.

My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun

by Emily Dickinson

‘My Life had stood – a Loaded Gun’ by Emily Dickinson is a complex, metaphorical poem. The poet depicts a woman who is under a man’s control and sleeps like a load gun.

The speaker describes her situation with confidence in this poem.

Keep A-Goin’

by Frank Lebby Stanton

‘Keep A-Goin’’ by Frank Lebby Stanton is a simple poem about the path one walks in life and what should happen if one runs into hardship.

The poem presents a confident tone that reminds readers to stay strong throughout the hardest parts of life. This is something that the poet wants to convey with as much clarity as possible.

Columbus

by Joaquin Miller

‘Columbus’ by Joaquin Miller is a perfectly rhymed poem that narrates a few moments in Columbus’ voyage to the new world. It focuses on the hardship the crew had to endure.

Despite the terrible conditions the crew was enduring, Columbus continued to show confidence that they were on the right path. He believed they'd get to India eventually. Even though they didn't end up where they thought they were going, they made a far more meaningful discovery.

Nobility

by Alice Cary

‘Nobility’ by Alice Cary is a straightforward, inspirational poem about where honor and nobility truly come from.

In this poem, the speaker's primary feeling is confidence. They are certain that their message about living a good life is right. They are seeking to inspire the reader to the same confidence.

There’s No Power Like Home

by Amanda Gorman

‘There’s No Power Like Home’ by Amanda Gorman is a beautiful testament to the difficulties associated with COVID-19 restrictions.

The poet uses a confident tone throughout this piece, suggesting that everyone will come out the other side of COVID-19 and feel more connected to those around them.

Tract

by William Carlos Williams

‘Tract’ by William Carlos Williams is a unique poem about funeral practices and how Williams’ speaker believed they should be altered to better serve the dead.

While discussing his intentions for funerals, the poet's speaker is incredibly confident. He's convinced that the ideas he has for how funerals should be handled are the correct ones.

Basketball Rule #1

by Kwame Alexander

‘Basketball Rule #1’ is one of several rules that feature in Kwame Alexander’s book The Crossover. The novel won the

The speaker's tone is filled with confidence and determination. The speaker is 100% convinced that what they're saying is true and something the listener/s needs to hear.

A little Dog that wags his tail

by Emily Dickinson

In ‘A little Dog that wags his tail’ Emily Dickinson explores themes of human nature, the purpose of life, and freedom. She compares animals, cats and dogs, to adults and children.

Australia 1970

by Judith Wright

‘Australia 1970’ by Judith Wright speaks on the changing landscape of Australia in the 1970s. It promotes a version of Australia that is fierce, wild, and dangerous just like the animals that have always lived within its boundaries.

Breaking the Surface

by Jean Bleakney

‘Breaking the Surface’ by Jean Bleakney is about the “art of skimming,” an extended metaphor for the art of writing poetry.

Courage

by Anna Akhmatova

‘Courage’ by Anna Akhmatova is a passionate poem about courage in the face of war. Specifically, Akhmatova was writing about World War II.

Fame is a bee

by Emily Dickinson

‘Fame is a bee’ by Emily Dickinson uses a bee to describe the fleeting nature of fame. She uses clever images and original poetic writing throughout.

For Nanabhai Bhatt

by Sujata Bhatt

‘For Nanabhai Bhatt’ is about the poet Sujata Bhatt’s grandfather, Nanabhai Bhatt, who was an educationist and activist active during the Indian independence movement.

Holy Sonnet IX

by John Donne

‘Holy Sonnet IX’ by John Donne, also known by its first line ‘If poisonous minerals, and if that tree’ is one of several “Holy Sonnets” the poet composed during his lifetime. This particular poem focuses on a dispute between the speaker and God.

How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix

by Robert Browning

‘How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix’ by Robert Browning depicts three riders’ attempting to gallop from Ghent to Aix. The speaker makes it there, delivering a critical, although unknown, piece of news.

If Ever the Lid Gets off my Head

by Emily Dickinson

‘If Ever the Lid gets off my head’ by Emily Dickinson is a thought-provoking poem. In it, the poet makes a distinction between her mind and common sense.

Into My Own

by Robert Frost

Robert Frost’s ‘Into My Own’ explores the concepts of maturity and growing up. The poet delves into the exploration of childhood and self.

Iris

by Sujata Bhatt

‘Iris’ by Sujata Bhatt is a narrative poem with lyric qualities. It depicts an artist’s wait for the sun to come out and bring out the colors in a single iris.

Confidence Poems