50+ Poems about Excitement

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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."

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,

Star-Fix

by Marilyn Nelson

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

The poem also instills a sense of excitement and exhilaration in the navigator's view of the world. Because they operate via the stars their perception is distinctly and surreally celestial. The poem's incredible imagery visualizes this in a number of breathtaking ways that call to mind science fiction as much as they do images of 19th century planes.

The Windhover

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

‘The Windhover’ is an incredibly important poem that Hopkins considered to be his best. It uses symbolism to speak about God and faith.

'The Windhover' captures a sense of excitement and wonder as the speaker watches the bird in flight. The windhover's acrobatic movements and soaring flight fill the speaker with admiration and awe. The poem captures the thrill of witnessing something remarkable and beautiful in the natural world.

Toilet

by Hugo Williams

‘Toilet’ by Hugo Williams is a humorous poem that describes a man’s struggles to speak to a beautiful woman on a train.

The poem ends on a note of excitement for the man who imagines the two having a very specific intimate encounter in the bathroom. His imagination runs wild and surprises the reader with a rather graphic depiction of their non-existent relationship.

America For Me

by Henry van Dyke

‘America For Me’ by Henry Van Dyke is a passionate, patriotic poem about America. It celebrates how different the United States is from Europe.

The speaker is done with his journey around Europe and is incredibly happy to be going back to the United States, where he is from. He sees it as the best home that he could ask for.

[love is more thicker than forget]

by E.E. Cummings

‘[love is more thicker than forget]’ by E.E. Cummings conveys the idea that love can be a source of hope, comfort, and joy in times of darkness.

There is a certain degree of excitement in this poem in the way that Cummings' speaker, likely E.E. Cummings himself, describes love. He alludes to the long-lasting nature of love as well as its depth and limitlessness.

Apostrophe to the Ocean

by Lord Byron

‘Apostrophe to the Ocean’ by Lord Byron is an excerpt from Byron’s long, epic poem ‘Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage.’ The excerpt includes seven stanzas from the poem, starting with stanza CLXXVIII, or 178, and ending with stanza 184.

This poem has a tone of excitement and appreciation that the poet hopes to convey to the reader. He has a deep love and respect for the ocean and shares it, very clearly, through these seven stanzas.

First Flight

by U.A. Fanthorpe

‘First Flight’ by U.A. Fanthorpe follows a narrator’s first flight as they rise above the ground and commentate on their journey.

This poem captures the initial excitement and anticipation of air travel as the speaker cranes to glimpse the world below and eagerly looks forward to the destination.

Hiawatha’s Childhood

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

‘Hiawatha’s Childhood’ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow describes how the protagonist of ‘The Song of Hiawatha’ grew up and learned about his surroundings. It also focuses on the life of his grandmother.

As Hiawatha grew up, he found himself more and more interested in the natural world and excited about the many different creatures that live in it. He learned a great deal about each one.

Plant a Tree

by Lucy Larcom

‘Plant a Tree’ by Lucy Larcom is a nature and religion-themed poem that speaks about the benefits of planting trees.

The poet's excitement about nature and its power comes through very clearly in this poem. The speaker is entirely focused on the ways that trees benefit people and animals. Planting a tree creates its own reward.

We Rise

by Amanda Gorman

‘We Rise’ by Amanda Gorman is a beautiful and inspirational poem that explores women’s power. The poet emphasizes how important it is for women to raise each other and ensure everyone has a voice.

The poet's speaker is excited about the prospects of future and successful women who, with strength and kindness, raise up those around them. The poet's tone is optimistic throughout.

A Face

by Robert Browning

Written in response to fellow poet Coventry Patmore’s poem The Angel in the House (1854), ‘A Face’ by Robert Browning explores the poet’s fascination with a lady’s portrait, particularly her facial features depicted in it.

A Murmur in the Trees— to note

by Emily Dickinson

‘A Murmur in the Trees— to note’ by Emily Dickinson is a poem about nature’s magic. It includes mysterious images of fairy men, glowing lights in the woods, and the murmuring of trees.

A Route of Evanescence

by Emily Dickinson

‘A Route of Evanescence’ by Emily Dickinson describes its subject through a series of metaphors, allusions, and images. But, never actually states that the subject is a hummingbird.

Eel Tail

by Alice Oswald

‘Eel Tail,’ a poem by contemporary British poet Alice Oswald, is about the mysteriously beautiful eels and their swift movements in the water.

For Sidney Bechet

by Philip Larkin

‘For Sidney Bechet’ is a poetic tribute to Sidney Bechet, one of the early jazz maestros that poet Philip Larkin admired the most.

Full Moon and Little Frieda

by Ted Hughes

In ‘Full Moon and Little Frieda,’ Ted Hughes describes his daughter’s observations of the world around her, reflecting on nature and family.

Going for Water

by Robert Frost

‘Going for Water’ by Robert Frost depicts a simple errand in joyful, uplifting language. The poem suggests that any task, no matter how annoying, can be enjoyed if one is outside.

How to Eat a Poem

by Eve Merriam

‘How to Eat a Poem’ by Eve Merriam uses eating fruit as a metaphor for reading poetry to encourage readers to enjoy poetry.

I did not reach Thee

by Emily Dickinson

‘I did not reach Thee’ by Emily Dickinson is a complex poem about a speaker’s journey through life. She expresses both optimism and hesitation in the face of her death and attempts to reach God.

I dwell in Possibility

by Emily Dickinson

‘I dwell in Possibility’ by Emily Dickinson is a short, memorable poem. It explores themes of writing, specifically poetic writing, and the power it has.

I saw no Way – The Heavens were stitched

by Emily Dickinson

‘I saw no Way – The Heavens were stitched’ by Emily Dickinson depicts heaven and the afterlife. The poet thoughtfully explores how she feels about the breadth of the universe.

Excitement Poems