The Poet by Paul Laurence Dunbar
‘The Poet’ by Paul Laurence Dunbar depicts how the poet saw himself and the elements of his work that gained popularity during his lifetime.
Politics by William Butler Yeats
‘Politics’ by William Butler Yeats is the last lyric poem Yeats wrote. It alludes to wars around the world including World War II which was to begin the year after this poem was written.
The Writer by Richard Wilbur
‘The Writer’ by Richard Wilbur depicts a father watching his daughter create her first piece of writing. The poet uses clever and creative examples of figurative language in order to depict the struggle new and experienced writers go through.
To John Keats, Poet, at Spring Time by Countee Cullen
‘To John Keats, Poet, at Spring Time’ by Countee Cullen is a poem about spring and poetry. It is addressed to John Keats and spends its lines praising spring and the deceased poet’s influence.
Dream Boogie by Langston Hughes
‘Dream Boogie’ by Langston Hughes is a poem about jazz, creativity, and the oppression of Black Americans. It was written during the Harlem Renaissance.
The Poem as Mask by Muriel Rukeyser
‘The Poem as Mask’ by Muriel Rukeyser is a powerful, feminist poem that speaks to the poet’s experiences in life and with her poetry.
At First by Amanda Gorman
‘At First’ by Amanda Gorman is a poem about language in the COVID-19 pandemic. The poem uses text messages to speak about how the pandemic changed everyone.
Memorial by Amanda Gorman
‘Memorial’ by Amanda Gorman is a poem about the past and how poets are able to use their writing to help readers relive it.
Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room by William Wordsworth
‘Nuns Fret Not at Their Convent’s Narrow Room’ by William Wordsworth is a thoughtful poem that expresses the poet’s appreciation for his chosen path.
Legacy by Rupi Kaur
‘Legacy,’ also sometimes known as ’I stand on the sacrifices’ is one of Rupi Kaur’s best-known poems. It is about the sacrifices women have made throughout time to improve the lives of women who followed.
Because You Asked about the Line Between Prose and Poetry by Howard Nemerov
‘Because You Asked about the Line Between Prose and Poetry’ by Howard Nemerov is a beautiful poem that uses birds and in climate to describe the difference between prose and poetry.
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.
The Famous Writer by Daniel Galef
‘The Famous Writer’ by Daniel Galef is a compelling poem about the effects of fame. The speaker is aware that fame is destructive but wants to experience it for himself.
Language Lesson 1976 by Heather McHugh
‘Language Lesson 1976’ by Heather McHugh is a thoughtful poem. In it, the speaker uses language cleverly to make statements about America and love.
Why I Am Not a Painter by Frank O’Hara
‘Why I Am Not a Painter’ by Frank O’Hara is a poem inspired by O’Hara’s experience with painters in New York. It details an interaction with Michael Goldberg.
They Say My Verse is Sad by A.E. Housman
‘They Say My Verse is Sad’ by A.E. Housman is a direct, two stanza poem. In it, Housman describes why he writes poetry and who he writes for.
The Plain Sense of Things by Wallace Stevens
‘The Plain Sense of Things’ by Wallace Stevens is a thoughtful poem about creativity. The speaker notes the “plain” times when one is forced to contend with a weakened imagination.
Shakespearean Sonnet by R. S. Gwynn
‘Shakespearean Sonnet’ by R. S. Gwynn is a celebration of Shakespeare’s plays. Each line of the poem refers to a different tragedy, comedy, or history play.
How Poetry Comes to Me by Gary Snyder
‘How Poetry Comes to Me’ by Gary Snyder is a thoughtful poem about receiving inspiration. The poet uses symbolism and other literary devices to depict poetic inspiration as an animal moving through the woods of his mind.
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.
The Unfinished by Laurie Sheck
‘The Unfinished’ by Laurie Sheck is a complex and powerful poem about meaning, the purpose of life, and free will.
Paradoxes and Oxymorons by John Ashbery
‘Paradoxes and Oxymorons’ by John Ashbery invites the reader to think about meaning in language through highlighting contradictions.
A Poppy Blooms by Katsushika Hokusai
‘A Poppy Blooms’ by Katsushika Hokusai is a thoughtful poem about writing. The poet uses a metaphor to depict how his process works.
A Bird That Was Most Used Up by Riyas Qurana
‘A Bird That Was Most Used Up’ by Riyas Qurana is a four stanza poem about creativity. Here the poet illustrates himself and his creativity as an infinite source of greatness in his poetic writing
Musician by Gillian Clarke
‘Musician’ by Gillian Clarke is a poem about her son learning to play the piano, where the imagery around the home aids to describe the creativity of music.
What is it? by Mary Majanja
‘What is it?’, by Mary Majanja, is a riddle poem that forces the reader to examine the definition of beauty and what it means to be beautiful.
Ode by Arthur O’Shaughnessy
‘Ode’ or ‘We are the music makers’ was written in 1873, and it has nine full stanzas, where the first three are the most commonly quoted. This poem celebrates the energy and the spirit of the Victorian era.
