Skyscraper by Carl Sandburg
‘Skyscraper’ is about the monumental modern wonder that, according to poet Carl Sandburg, “has a soul.” It’s the people working there who keep the frame of steel and mortar alive.
The Trashpickers, Madison Street by Naomi Shihab Nye
Naomi Shihab Nye’s ‘The Trashpickers, Madison Street’ describes the morning routine of trash pickers across Madison Street and their way of searching for happiness from the trash.
Broadway by Walt Whitman
‘Broadway’ by Walt Whitman is a short, effective poem that speaks to the nature of contemporary life. It focuses in on one street in New York City.
The Ghost by Sara Teasdale
‘The Ghost’ by Sara Teasdale describes a speaker’s unwelcome experience after reuniting with two ex-lovers in a city she used to know.
You, Andrew Marvell by Archibald MacLeish
‘You, Andrew Marvell’ by Archibald MacLeish describes the transitory nature of the time and the unstoppable force that is night.
I Remember, I Remember by Philip Larkin
‘I Remember, I Remember’ by Philip Larkin contains a speaker’s thoughts about his home. He expresses what he thinks is an idealized childhood and how it doesn’t match up to it.
Skunk Hour by Robert Lowell
‘Skunk Hour’ by Robert Lowell describes a speaker’s fascination with a town in Maine as well as the secret night-time activities he participates in.
A Description of the Morning by Jonathan Swift
‘A Description of the Morning’ by Jonathan Swift describes the various events happening one morning in London’s West End in the early 1700s.
pity this busy monster, manunkind by E.E. Cummings
‘pity this busy monster, manunkind’ by E.E. Cummings describes the destructive nature of progress and how it has damaged humankind’s view of the world.
Monuments by Kamala Wijeratne
‘Monuments’ by Kamala Wijeratne describes the depressed state of a Sri Lankan community in the midst of the Civil War which lasted from 1983 to 2009.
Synopsis of the Great Welsh Novel by Harri Webb
‘Synopsis of the Great Welsh Novel’ by Harri Webb describes, through humorous verse, the state of Welsh society and culture.
In Your Mind by Carol Ann Duffy
‘In Your Mind’ by Carol Ann Duffy describes a detailed daydream in which the reader of the poem embarks on a strangely familiar trip.
[London, my beautiful] by F.S. Flint
‘[London, my beautiful]’ by F.S. Flint describes one speaker’s love for the city of London and how he feels the city improves others and himself.
Hours by Hazel Hall
‘Hours’ by Hazel Hall describes how a speaker experinces hours which are like “cities,” “forbidden music” and “mellow” in tone.
Passers-by by Carl Sandburg
‘Passers-by’ by Carl Sandburg describes the emotions interpreted and the sights seen by speaker after a walk through the streets of a city.
Foreign by Carol Ann Duffy
‘Foreign’ by Carol Ann Duffy is a poem which casts the reader as an alienated foreigner in the city they’ve live in for twenty years.
Karachi by Toufiq Rafat
‘Karachi’ by Toufiq Rafat describes the natural forces that besiege the city of Karachi and the ongoing fight for survival that occurs within it.
Zone by Guillaume Apollinaire
‘Zone’ by Guillaume Apollinaire describes a dream-like walk through Paris that spans an entire day, from sunup to sunup.
After the Last Bulletins by Richard Wilbur
‘After the Last Bulletins’ by Richard Wilbur is about the human race’s ability to discard at night what was deemed important in the morning.
The Instruction Manual by John Ashbery
‘The Instruction Manual’ by John Ashbery is poem that is constructed to express the struggles of a creative thinker in a factual, mundane task.
Partition by Sujata Bhatt
‘Partition’ by Sujata Bhatt depicts the simple tale of a woman going to a “railway station” to provide for distressed people, while her niece stays “in her garden” and “wish[es]” “she” could be brave enough to do the same.
The Old Tongue by Herbert Williams
Herbert Williams’ ‘The Old Tongue’ is a poem about the gradual waning of traditional language and culture in Wales.
Wild Dreams of a New Beginning by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Wild Dreams of a New Beginning’ is the imaginary destruction of the modern world that concludes with a questionable return to peaceful wilderness.
Heron at Port Talbot by Gillian Clarke
‘Heron at Port Talbot’ describes the relationship between the industrial world and the natural and how the two collide on a snowy road at night.
The Tale of Melon City by Vikram Seth
Vikram Seth’s famous work, ‘The Tale of Melon City,’ is well-known for being a humorous and almost child-like poem in the uniquely ridiculous nature of its story.