Vermilion Flycatcher, San Pedro River, Arizona
by Margaret Atwood
‘Vermilion Flycatcher, San Pedro River, Arizona’ by Margaret Atwood discusses the ways that nature changes and doesn’t change over time as well as humanity’s impact (or lack thereof).
Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field one Night
by Walt Whitman
‘Vigil Strange I Kept on the Field one Night’ by Walt Whitman is an emotional poem that describes a soldier’s night-time vigil alongside the body of his fallen comrade.
Visits to St. Elizabeths
by Elizabeth Bishop
‘Visits to St. Elizabeths’ by Elizabeth Bishop depicts the late Ezra Pound in a mental institution. The poet was inspired by the structure of children’s nursery rhymes in her composition of the text.
Vulture
by Robinson Jeffers
‘Vulture’ by Robinson Jeffers is a poem that describes the thoughts of a speaker caught up in the beauty of death, but not quite ready to enter it.
Vultures
by Chinua Achebe
‘Vultures’ is one of the famous poems of the Nigerian poet Chinua Achebe. It is a dark and somber piece that focuses on the Belsen concentration camp and a commandant who works there.
Waking from Sleep
by Robert Bly
Robert Bly’s ‘Waking from Sleep’ is a symbolic poem about the awakening from the deep slumber of ignorance and thralldom. It evokes the imagery of a “harbor at dawn” in order to present this theme.
Waking in Winter
by Sylvia Plath
‘Waking in Winter’ by Sylvia Plath tells the story of hotel residents. They’re living different lives but are unified through their hopelessness.
Walking the Dog
by Howard Nemerov
‘Walking the Dog’ by Howard Nemerov is a poem about an owner, his dog, and the walks they go on. The poet expresses the various sights he sees with his pet and the things they do and don’t share.
Wanting to Die
by Anne Sexton
‘Wanting to Die’ by Anne Sexton is a poem about the poet’s desire to take her own life. It was written close to ten years before she committed suicide.
Warning
by Jenny Joseph
‘Warning’ by Jenny Joseph describes what the future has in store as one ages and throws off societal restraints and expectations.
Waterfall
by Lauris Dorothy Edmond
‘Waterfall’ is a famous poem of the New Zealand poet Lauris Dorothy Edmond. This poem taps on the themes of love, death, time, and youth.
Waterfalls
by Vernon Watkins
‘Waterfalls’ by Vernon Watkins is an elegy written in free verse with four stanzas dedicated to the memories of the narrator.
We Were Simply Talking
by Andrew Hudgins
‘We Were Simply Talking’ appears in the American poet Andrew Hudgins’ poetry collection Babylon in a Jar (1998). This piece is about a car accident the speaker managed to avoid.
Weather Eye
by Isobel Dixon
‘Weather Eye’ by Isobel Dixon is a beautiful poem about childhood. It describes the routines that controlled a speaker’s life during their youth and how they miss the order and family time.
Wedding Cake
by Naomi Shihab Nye
‘Wedding Cake’ by Naomi Shihab Nye describes a brief moment a speaker took care of a child on an airplane.
Weekend Glory
by Maya Angelou
‘Weekend Glory’ by Maya Angelou explores important themes of identity and happiness. She uses the weekend as a way to explore what’s truly “glorious” and what’s not.
Welsh History
by Ronald Stuart Thomas
‘Welsh History’ is an image rich depiction of the history of the Welsh people and their strength throughout times of strife and suffering.
What Happened to the Elephant?
by Sujata Bhatt
‘What Happened to the Elephant?’ by Sujata Bhatt is inspired by Hindu beliefs. Specifically, she focuses on ideas of reincarnation and a child’s curiosity in it.
What Has Happened to Lulu?
by Charles Causley
‘What Has Happened to Lulu?’ is a six-stanza poem that is told from the perspective of a child asking questions about another female’s disappearance.
What I Expected (XIII)
by Stephen Spender
‘What I Expected’ is a harrowing account of failed hopes and unrealized dreams, which captures the hopelessness of the 1930s.
What is Poetry?
by John Ashbery
‘What is Poetry?’ by John Ashbery is a complex poem about poetry and what exactly it is. It uses Ashbery’s traditional obscure language and meaning.
What Kind of Times Are These
by Adrienne Rich
‘What Kind of Times Are These’ is a poem about modern-day problems. Adrienne Rich, the poet of this piece, provides the solution at the end.
What the Living Do
by Marie Howe
‘What the Living Do’ by Marie Howe is a beautiful poem about contemporary life. Throughout, the speaker defines what it is the living do.
What the Orphan Inherits
by Sherman Alexie
‘What the Orphan Inherits’ by Sherman Alexie is a powerful piece about contending with the world as a Native American child after becoming an orphan.
What were our Dreams
by Dr Amjad Izmaan
Here is a summary and critical analysis of ‘What were our Dreams’ by Dr Amjad Izmaan, as requested by a visitor of PoemAnalysis.com.
When I Die
by Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi
‘When I Die’ is an incredible Rumi poem about eternal life after death. The poet proposes not to grieve his death as it’s just a means to a new beginning, not an end.
When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer
by Walt Whitman
It’s much more than the dry figures to study or embracing the moist air of nature. In ‘When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer,’ Walt Whitman emphasizes the importance of studying nature that can tap into deeper thoughts and knowledge.
Where the Sidewalk Ends
by Shel Silverstein
‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’ by Shel Silverstein speaks on the important theme of growing up. The poet discusses the differences between the adult world and the mind of a child.