Nightscapes
by Jean Bleakney
‘Nightscapes’ beautifully captures the feeling of being isolated from nature that is common in urban environments.
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.
Morning Swim
by Maxine Kumin
‘Morning Swim’ by Maxine Kumin is a thoughtful lyric poem that’s written in couplets. The poem engages with themes of God and Nature.
A Dream
by Edgar Allan Poe
‘A Dream’ by Edgar Allan Poe describes a speaker’s waking and dreaming state and the brief moments of light and hope he experiences.
A Frosty Night
by Robert Graves
Robert Graves presents a compelling duologue in his poetic ballad, ‘A Frosty Night.’ He uses simple ideas and complex language to create a meaningful poem.
A Hope Carol
by Christina Rossetti
‘A Hope Carol’ describes a liminal space in which a speaker is existing and the elements which inspire her to hope for the future.
A Limb Just Moved
by Mirabai
‘A Limb Just Moved’ is a poem attributed to Mirabai, a Hindu mystic and Bahkti saint who lived in the sixteenth century and was well-known for her incredible devotion to Krishna, and to her faith.
A Night Thought
by William Wordsworth
‘A Night Thought’ by William Wordsworth describes a speaker’s displeasure at those among the human race who do not appreciate what fortune has given them.
A Song of Faith Forsworn
by John Warren
‘A Song of Faith Forsworn’ by Lord De Tabley details the love lost between the speaker and her lover who attempted to control her through lies and false vows.
A Song: Ask me no more where Jove bestows
by Thomas Carew
‘A Song: Ask me no more where Jove bestows’ by Thomas Carew describes how in winter beauty doesn’t die, rather, it moves from nature to the listener’s body.
A Woman’s Last Word
by Robert Browning
‘A Woman’s Last Word’ by Robert Browning is made up of a wife’s request to her husband that they stop arguing for the night and enter into a peaceful sleep.
Acquainted with the Night
by Robert Frost
‘Acquainted with the Night’ by Robert Frost is a personal poem that deals with themes of depression. It’s told, perhaps, from the poet’s own perspective.
After Apple-Picking
by Robert Frost
‘After Apple-Picking’ by Robert Frost begins with an apple-picker’s thoughts after a day of work. The poem goes on to explore themes of life and death.
After Reading ‘Antony and Cleopatra’
by Robert Louis Stevenson
‘After Reading Antony and Cleopatra’ by Robert Louis Stevenson describes humankind’s unquenchable desire for “hopeless things” that stem from the past.
Afternoon in February
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
‘Afternoon in February’ by Longfellow is a poem that explores profound sadness, and, more notable, the way that people can see their sadness in every aspect of life when the feeling is strong enough.
An August Midnight
by Thomas Hardy
‘An August Midnight’ was written in 1899 by ‘Thomas Hardy’, published in 1901. The main theme in this poem is the meaning and purpose in life.
Answers
by Elizabeth Jennings
‘Answers’ by Elizabeth Jennings describes how one speaker compartmentalizes the big questions and answers in life in the back of her mind.
Apostate
by Léonie Adams
Apostate’ by Léonie Adams describes the freedom a speaker sees in the joyful stars and how she aches to live as they do.
Artist’s Life
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
‘Artist’s Life’ by Ella Wheeler Wilcox describes the personal and emotional connection a speaker has to Strauss’ composition, Artist’s Life.
As Imperceptibly as Grief
by Emily Dickinson
‘As imperceptibly as grief’ by Emily Dickinson analyzes grief. The poet compares it to the passing away of the summer.
Barter by Sara Teasdale
by Sara Teasdale
‘Barter’ by Sara Teasdale describes the many lovely and splendid sights, sounds and experiences life has to sell to someone willing to invest in them.
Before the Mirror by Elizabeth Drew Barstow Stoddard
by Elizabeth Drew Barstow Stoddard
‘Before the Mirror’ by Elizabeth Drew Barstow Stoddard describes the life of a woman trapped within her home and the shadows of the world outside.
Break of Day
by John Donne
‘Break of Day’ by John Donne is an aubade told from a female perspective. It conveys a woman’s understanding of her relationship with a busy lover.
Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art
by John Keats
‘Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art’ is one of John Keats’ best-loved poems. It uses a star as an image of steadfastness in order to depict how true a lover’s heart is.