Excitement Poems

Poetry that sparks excitement is filled with energetic language and lively imagery. These poems pulse with anticipation, exploring moments of thrill, wonder, and joyful surprise.

The poet captures the exhilaration of new experiences, adventures, and discoveries, creating a palpable sense of eagerness and enthusiasm. These verses mirror the rapid heartbeat of excitement, creating a contagious sense of delight and anticipation that captivates the reader and carries them along on a wave of expectation.

That Music Always Round Me

by Walt Whitman

‘That Music Always Round Me’ by Walt Whitman is a beautiful poem that melds together the poet’s democratic worldview with a rapt appreciation for individual beauty.

A powerful emotion in Walt Whitman's poem is excitement. Many of his poems are defined by their breathless zeal, and this one is no different. Whisking the listener away in a flurry of music as the speaker describes the perfectly tangible and invigorating sounds and tones emanating around them.

That music always round me, unceasing, unbeginning, yet long untaught I did not hear,

But now the chorus I hear and am elated,

Lochinvar

by Sir Walter Scott

‘Lochinvar’ is a ballad about a young and courageous knight who saves his beloved, the fair lady Ellen, from marrying another man.

With its anapestic meter, 'Lochinvar,' as a whole, rolls off of the tongue, making the poem speedy and exciting to read. Similarly, Lochinvar's bravery, constant action, and movement bring the poem to life and uplift the listener.

O young Lochinvar is come out of the west,

Through all the wide Border his steed was the best;

And save his good broadsword he weapons had none,

He rode all unarm’d, and he rode all alone`

Love Poem

by Gregory Orr

‘Love Poem’ by Gregory Orr is a short poem about a speaker’s imaginative telling of asking for someone’s phone number.

The opening images that fill the first four lines of the poem are meaning to be exciting. As they support the assumption that this love poem is one filled with both drama and romance. But that excitement also serves the irony of its ending.

A black biplane crashes through the window 

of the luncheonette. The pilot climbs down, 

removing his leather hood. 

He hands me my grandmother's jade ring. 

Golden Retrievals

by Mark Doty

‘Golden Retrievals’ is a poignant poem that personifies man’s best-friend in an attempt to remind us that happiness and shelter from life’s woes is best found in the present.

Excitement is one of the defining emotions in Mark Doty's poem, imbuing both its tone and mood with a carefree ebullience. This is mainly owed to the poem's chosen speaker: a dog that doesn't understand concepts such as time or grieving over the past. Instead, they're purely consumed by the joys of the present and delight in their walk.

Fetch? Balls and sticks capture my attention

seconds at a time. Catch? I don’t think so.

Bunny, tumbling leaf, a squirrel who’s—oh

joy—actually scared. Sniff the wind, then

Bards of Passion and of Mirth

by John Keats

‘Bards of Passion and of Mirth’ by John Keats is one of the poet’s early odes. In it, Keats confirms that bards, or authors, have two souls, with one rising to heaven, and the other staying on earth.

As Keats holds a one-sided conversation with himself about the immortality of storytellers, he grows increasingly excited about the things that the afterlife might have to offer. His tone is enthusiastic, as the meter moves rapidly from line to line with few pauses and several exclamations. By the end, Keats is resounding with joy that storytellers both go to heaven and live on forever though their words.

    Bards of Passion and of Mirth,  

Ye have left your souls on earth!  

Have ye souls in heaven too,  

Doubled-lived in regions new?  

The Sea and the Hills

by Rudyard Kipling

‘The Sea and the Hills’ by Rudyard Kipling depicts the ocean, its heaving waves, incredible winds, and ever-present danger. It has evoked longing in men throughout time and will continue to do so, just as one longs to return home. 

The crashing waves and stormy seas have excited adventurers for generations, just as those left behind have gazed out at the sea in excitement of the return of their loved one.

Who hath desired the Sea? - the sight of salt water unbounded -

The heave and the halt and the hurl and the crash of the comber wind-hounded?

The sleek-barrelled swell before storm, grey, foamless, enormous, and growing

Stark calm on the lap of the Line or the crazy-eyed hurricane blowing -

Personal Helicon

by Seamus Heaney

Heaney’s ‘Personal Helicon’ draws inspiration from his rural carefree childhood and intimate connection with nature.

The poem captures the wonder and awe with which the narrator experienced nature as a child. However, they can no longer capture those feelings as an adult.

As a child, they could not keep me from wells

And old pumps with buckets and windlasses.

I loved the dark drop, the trapped sky, the smells

For You O Democracy

by Walt Whitman

‘For You O Democracy’ by Walt Whitman dedicates itself to the establishment of a land and people worthy of the noble ideals of democracy itself.

Excitement is an emotion inherent in many of Walt Whitman’s poems. This one is no different, and although it's on the shorter end of some of his more famous ones, that doesn't mean the speaker isn't graced by the poet's energizing voice. Their excitement is characterized by an emphatic patriotism and devotion to democracy.

Come, I will make the continent indissoluble,

I will make the most splendid race the sun ever shone upon,

I will make divine magnetic lands,

With the love of comrades,

Look, Stranger

by W.H. Auden

‘Look, Stranger’ by W. H. Auden captures the beauty of a moment observed by the speaker and reveals the very human desire to commit it to memory.

Excitement is, without a doubt, the dominant emotion found within the poem. The speaker is energized from the very first line with this infectious energy, which they try to impart to the reader. Anyone who has stumbled on a truly stunning vista would no doubt understand the desire to share such a rush of excitement that comes with it.

Look, stranger, on this island now

The leaping light for your delight discovers,

Stand stable here

And silent be,

Mountain Evening Song

by Jeffrey Robin

Jeffrey Robin’s ‘Mountain Evening Song’ is a celebration of the campfire. As he looks into its flames, the speaker experiences a profound connection with his companions and the natural world.

In this poem, the speaker repeatedly expresses excitement through exclamations and breaks in the text. The entire poem feels joyful and fun as a result, drawing the reader into the speaker's experience.

Sitting around the campfire

Lo! --- the campfire !

Know --- the campfire is known

Explore more poems about Excitement

November Blue

by Alice Meynell

‘November Blue’ by Alice Meynell draws attention to the weather in November and what people do to make up for it.

The major emotion evoked by Alice Meynell's ‘November Blue’ is excitement. Even though the weather in November is dreary, the reader is excited to know the temporary fix for it. The people in London buy lamps to add color and light to the place. The poem makes one excited because the people there feel better when the sky becomes colorful once more, but it is not the best when it comes to poems that evoke this emotion.

O, Heavenly colour! London town

Has blurred it from her skies;

And hooded in an earthly brown,

Unheaven'd the city lies.

Woodchucks

by Maxine Kumin

‘Woodchucks’ by Maxine Kumin is a metaphorical poem which uses the conceit of a farmer hunting woodchucks to uncover the murderous tendencies only a position of power can reveal in humans.

Right after the farmer begins killing off these pests, the farmer begins to enjoy the thrill of their hunts. At this point, one can liken the persona's excitement to that of a serial killer while they hunt their prey. It is a sickening kind that needs no self-justification.

The food from our mouths, I said, righteously thrilling

to the feel of the .22, the bullets' neat noses.

I, a lapsed pacifist fallen from grace

puffed with Darwinian pieties for killing,

Macavity: The Mystery Cat

by T.S. Eliot

‘Macavity: The Mystery Cat’ is a light verse presenting the amusing crimes of the superhuman cat – Macavity.

This poem has a fictional cat as its protagonist. Macavity is surrounded by mystery as the cat is personified as a cunning criminal who always triumphs over the cops. The witty antics and exploits of Macavity evoke readers' excitement and keep them hooked to the poem to know more about the enigmatic offender.

Macavity’s a Mystery Cat: he’s called the Hidden Paw—

For he’s the master criminal who can defy the Law.

He’s the bafflement of Scotland Yard, the Flying Squad’s despair:

For when they reach the scene of crime—Macavity’s not there!

Latin & Soul

by Victor Hernández Cruz

‘Latin & Soul’ by Victor Hernández Cruz conveys the sublimely affecting power of music on a group of dancers.

One of the emotions the poem inspires is intense excitement, an emotional fervor that is absorbed from the music by the audience and then expelled via dancing. The speaker actively encourages those present to dance in a series of compelling images.

some waves

                     a wave of now

                                               a trombone speaking to you

a piano is trying to break a molecule

Mannahatta

by Walt Whitman

‘Mannahatta’ by Walt Whitman is a stunning poem that marvels over a city deeply admired by the poet, encompassing all the wondrous elements of its populace.

Excitement is often an emotion expressed in Whitman's poetry, a byproduct of his breathless and earnest voice. With this poem, he directs that heft of energy and passion towards describing all the kineticism of urban life. It's not often you see a Transcendentalism invoking wonder in the recreation of a world seemingly antithetical to nature. But Whitman's focus on humanism and brotherhood shines through as the source of his excitement.

I was asking for something specific and perfect for my city,

Whereupon lo! upsprang the aboriginal name.

Now I see what there is in a name, a word, liquid, sane, unruly, musical, self-sufficient,

I see that the word of my city is that word from of old,

Perfection

by William Carlos Williams

‘Perfection’ by William Carlos Williams is a poem about finding exquisite appreciation for a decay as a natural part of life in the image of a rotting apple.

The poem also expresses great excitement in the form of the speaker's exaltations of the apple. Williams' punctuation and diction evidence this even further. The excitement expressed is meant to ignite something in the reader as well, to inspire them to see similar beauty in seemingly unworthy images like a rotting apple.

O lovely apple!

beautifully and completely

rotten

hardly a contour marred--

Steps

by Frank O’Hara

‘Steps’ by Frank O’Hara is one of the poet’s many pieces that explores life in New York City. It is written in his characteristic style and is filled with allusions that are sometimes hard to interpret. 

The poet uses an excited tone throughout this poem and should, through his skillful imagery, make the reader feel something similar regarding their own life. The poet intends to remind readers of how beautiful life is and how lucky one is to be alive.

How funny you are today New York

like Ginger Rogers in Swingtime

and St. Bridget’s steeple leaning a little to the left

Ithaka

by C. P. Cavafy

‘Ithaka’ is a Greek language poem, written by the Greek poet Constantine Peter Cavafy. This piece features Odysseus’s journey to Ithaca, his home island.

This poem acknowledges the importance of excitement in one's journey through life. The mention of encountering new harbors, trading stations, and Egyptian cities evokes the idea of discovering and embracing novel experiences that bring joy and pleasure

As you set out for Ithaka

hope your road is a long one,

full of adventure, full of discovery.

Laistrygonians, Cyclops,

Ode to the West Wind

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

‘Ode to the West Wind’ was written in Cascine Woods, outside of Florence, Italy, and published in 1820. It focuses on death’s necessary destruction and the possibilities of rebirth.

Excitement is palpable in the speaker's anticipation of the change that the West Wind promises to bring. There is an eagerness to goes beyond current struggles and limitations, conveyed through the poem's dynamic rhythms and passionate language. This excitement propels the poem forward, charging it with emotional and intellectual energy.

O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being,

Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead

Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,

Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,

Ravenna

by Oscar Wilde

‘Ravenna’ by Oscar Wilde is the poet’s recollection of a trip to the culturally and historically important Italian city of Ravenna.

This poem can inspire excitement about the city of Ravenna, its glorious past, and the great poets associated with the city, Byron and Dante. The praise that Oscar Wilde heaps on the subject of his poem can certainly generate a feeling of excitement.

A year ago I breathed the Italian air,

And yet, methinks this northern Spring is fair,

These fields made golden with the flower of March,

The throstle singing on the feathered larch,

High Flight

by John Gillespie Magee

‘High Flight’ by John Gillespie Maggee Jr. is a powerful WWII poem that was written in the weeks prior to the poet’s death. It explores flying, God, and human mortality.

The speaker's joy and excitement for flight are palpable from the poem's first lines. He uses words like "danced" and "climbed" to represent his flight as he flies "sunward" and joins the "tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds."

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

of sun-split clouds,—and done a hundred things

Jabberwocky

by Lewis Carroll

‘Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carroll is a brilliant nonsense poem. It tells the story of one person’s quest to slay the Jabberwock and the incredible creatures they meet along the way.

The battle between the hero and the Jabberwocky is a thrilling and exciting moment in the poem. The language and imagery used in the battle scene evoke a sense of danger and excitement, drawing the reader in and creating a vivid sensory experience.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

The Best of School

by D.H. Lawrence

D. H. Lawrence’s ‘The Best of School’ describes a teacher’s growing wonder as he watches his students make discoveries in the course of their studies.

In this poem, one can sense the speaker's growing excitement as he watches his students' flashes of insight. He comes to feel their triumphs as if they were his own.

The blinds are drawn because of the sun,

And the boys and the room in a colourless gloom

Of underwater float: bright ripples run

Across the walls as the blinds are blown

 

The Red Wheelbarrow

by William Carlos Williams

‘The Red Wheelbarrow’ by William Carlos Williams depicts, in very simple language, a red wheelbarrow outside in the rain.

Williams celebrates the simple pleasures of life in this poem. The poem suggests that happiness can be found in the most unexpected places, such as a red wheelbarrow in a chicken coop. By focusing on the present moment and finding joy in the small things, Williams encourages readers to embrace a life of gratitude and contentment.

so much depends upon a red wheel barrow  

The Young Housewife

by William Carlos Williams

‘The Young Housewife’ by William Carlos Williams is a short poem that intimately envisions a few moments in the life of a lonely woman confined to her home.

Williams also conjures up excitement from the point of view of the speaker. In some ways, this excitement plays into the voyeuristic atmosphere of the poem. But it also mirrors the housewife's shyness as she stands outside calling to the "ice-man, fish-man." This excitement builds until it's released in the last stanza as the speaker imagines themselves greeting the woman in person.

At ten a.m. the young housewife

moves about in negligee behind

the wooden walls of her husband’s house.

I pass solitary in my car.

To a Skylark

by Percy Bysshe Shelley

‘To a Skylark’ by Percy Bysshe Shelley is an ode. It celebrates the beauty of nature and the bliss of a skylark’s song.

Shelley captures the excitement and vitality of nature through its portrayal of the skylark's soaring flight and joyful song. The poem celebrates the unbridled energy and beauty of the natural world,

Hail to thee, blithe Spirit! 

Bird thou never wert, 

That from Heaven, or near it,

Evening Hawk

by Robert Penn Warren

‘Evening Hawk’ showcases Warren’s love for rich imagery and metaphysical symbolism. The hawk serves as a powerful vehicle for a series of revelations about our place in the universe.

The speaker is excited by the hawk's arrival, and his exclamations of "Look! Look!" to the reader emphasize the importance of this experience for him. He also loses his ability to define the world in more human terms, such as mathematics, in his excitement and fear.

His wing

Scythes down another day, his motion

Is that of the honed steel-edge, we hear

The crashless fall of stalks of Time.

Before The Cask of Wine

by Li Bai

‘Before The Cask of Wine’ is a beautiful lyric that emphasizes enjoying one’s youthful hours to the fullest. As one can’t savor those moments in old age.

Throughout this piece, the poet uses an excited tone in order to describe the beauties of youth and how, as time passes, so too does one's youthful vigor. It's important, he reminds readers, to enjoy this time in one's life while it's possible to.

The spring wind comes from the east and quickly passes,

Leaving faint ripples in the wine of the golden bowl.

The flowers fall, flake after flake, myriads together.

City of Orgies

by Walt Whitman

‘City of Orgies’ by Walt Whitman is a poem written by the celebrated American poet Walt Whitman. The poem is a reflection on the city of Manhattan and Whitman’s experiences in the midst of its bustling urban culture. 

Excitement is a key element in this poem, with Whitman describing the hustle and bustle of the city streets, the thrill of new experiences, and the energy of the crowds. His poetry captures the sense of excitement and possibility that permeates life in the city.

City of orgies, walks and joys,

City whom that I have lived and sung in your midst will one day

make you illustrious,

Not the pageants of you, not your shifting tableaus, your specta-

cles, repay me,

Kubla Khan (Xanadu)

by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

‘Kubla Khan’ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is a poem that describes the poet’s dream of visiting the palace of Kubla Khan, a Mongol emperor who ruled over the ancient Chinese Yuan Dynasty.

Coleridge believed that poetry should be enjoyable to read and that it should evoke strong emotions in the reader. 'Kubla Khan' is a prime example of this, and the poet's excitement for the subject matter comes through clearly. This is a sensual and pleasurable poem that transports the reader to another world.

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan

A stately pleasure-dome decree:

Where Alph, the sacred river, ran

Through caverns measureless to man

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