Air Raid
by Chinua Achebe
‘Air Raid’ by Chinua Achebe is a poem that provides a glimpse into the Nigerian/Biafran Civil War using symbolism and dark humor.
A Bird, came down the Walk
by Emily Dickinson
‘A Bird, came down the Walk’ by Emily Dickinson is a beautiful nature poem. It focuses on the actions of a bird going about its everyday life.
Each In His Own Tongue
by William Herbert Carruth
‘Each In His Own Tongue’ by William Herbert Carruth depicts the world and all its beauty and suffering, attributing the elements to evolution, longing, consecration, or God.
What Though the Dark Come Down
by Annette Wynne
‘What Though the Dark Come Down’ by Annette Wynne is a powerful, four-stanza poem that explores the power, or lack thereof, darkness holds.
A Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map
by Stephen Spender
‘A Stopwatch and an Ordnance Map’ by Stephen Spender explores the Spanish Civil War through the lyrical depiction of one man’s death. It is marked by a stopwatch, the olive trees, and the continued conflict around him.
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.
Elegy V: His Picture
by John Donne
‘Elegy V’ by John Donne is addressed to the poet’s lover. He asks her to accept him when he returns, despite the fact that he’s going to look and act differently.
Exile
by Julia Alvarez
‘Exile’ by Julia Alvarez is a narrative depiction of the poet’s childhood memories of leaving the Dominican Republic for the United States.
George
by Hilaire Belloc
‘George’ by Hilaire Belloc describes one day in the life of a young boy and the consequences of what should have been a benign action.
It was not Death, for I stood up
by Emily Dickinson
‘It was not Death, for I stood up’ by Emily Dickinson is a thoughtful poem about understanding depression. Specifically, the speaker is interested in understanding herself.
Mother to Son
by Langston Hughes
‘Mother to Son’ by Langston Hughes uses the metaphor of a staircase to depict the difficulties and dangers one will face in life.
One need not be a Chamber to be Haunted
by Emily Dickinson
‘One need not be a Chamber to be Haunted’ by Emily Dickinson explores the nature of the human mind. She presents the reader with images of mental and physical threats and how they can be confronted.
Plague
by Jackie Kay
‘Plague’ by Jackie Kay is a poem about death, specifically about the plague in London and how a mother is forced to contend with the knowledge that both her sons are going to die.
Pork Pies
by Jackie Kay
‘Pork Pies’ by Jackie Kay is a unique poem about the kidnapping of a child by two other young children who may have also taken his life. It was likely inspired by real-life events.
Seascape
by Stephen Spender
‘Seascape’ by Stephen Spender depicts a seascape that is both peaceful and dangerous. The poem reminds readers of how fickle and dangerous the ocean can be.
Song of the Owl
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
‘Song of the Owl,’ a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, describes the hooting of the great black owl. It taps on the themes of silence and darkness.
The Butterfly
by Pavel Friedmann
In this heartbreaking poem, Friedmann writes about the last butterfly he saw and uses it as a symbol for loss and approaching death during the Holocaust.
The Forced Recruit
by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
‘The Forced Recruit’ by Elizabeth Barrett Browning tells the very real story of a brave Italian man who was forced to fight against his country.
The Glove and the Lions
by Leigh Hunt
‘The Glove and the Lions’ by Leigh Hunt describes the dangerous games of love played in the royal court of the king and the consequences of going too far.
The Lightning is a Yellow Fork
by Emily Dickinson
‘The Lightening is a Yellow Fork’ by Emily Dickinson is a highly original poem. It focuses on the sublime power of lightening and God.
The Summer of Lost Rachel
by Seamus Heaney
‘The Summer of Lost Rachel’ by Seamus Heaney was written after the death of the poet’s young niece. The poem uses nine quatrains with a ballad rhyme scheme.
There came a Wind like a Bugle
by Emily Dickinson
‘There came a Wind like a Bugle –’ by Emily Dickinson depicts the incredible power of the natural world. She describes a day when a storm nearly destroyed a series of homes.
To a Mouse
by Robert Burns
‘To a Mouse’ by Robert Burns describes the unfortunate situation of a mouse whose home was destroyed by the winter winds.
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.