Cynthia by Morton Schmidt (22 Jump Street)
‘Cynthia’ is a humorous example of slam poetry from the comedy movie ’22 Jump Street.’ It is performed by Jonah Hill’s character, Morton Schmidt, on stage.
Bells for John Whiteside’s Daughter by John Crowe Ransom
‘Bells for John Whiteside’s Daughter’ by John Crowe Ransom is an elegy for Whiteside’s daughter, a young girl who passed away suddenly. It’s unclear why she died, but, the speaker spends the bass majority of this poem depicting her lively and playful life.
Monuments for a Friendly Girl at a Tenth Grade Party by William Stafford
William Stafford shows his unique style of writing, the use of imagery, and symbolism in his poem ‘Monuments for a Friendly Girl at a Tenth Grade Party.’ He uses flashbacks to his school days when he first met his childhood love, Ruth, and felt “alive.”
The Funeral by Norman Dubie
Norman Dubie’s ‘The Funeral’ is about a speaker’s aunt who died of cancer. In this piece, the speaker shares one of the best memories with her.
I Have News by Juliette A. H. Cavendish
‘I Have News’ by Juliette A. H. Cavendish is a moving poem. In it, the speaker describes the aftermath of a death and how they contended with it.
To an Athlete Dying Young by A. E. Housman
‘To an Athlete Dying Young’ by A. E. Housman describes the death of a youthful man who is celebrated for his glorious passing and remembered for his loss, rather than his athletic achievements.
Obituary by A.K. Ramanujan
‘Obituary’ by A.K. Ramanujan explores the universal toll a parent’s passing can have on a child and all the ways that their memory remains even after their death.
Tichborne’s Elegy by Chidiock Tichborne
‘Tichborne’s Elegy’ by Chidiock Tichborne describes the fears and regrets of Tichborne as he faces a certain execution for plotting regicide.
On the Death of Anne Brontë by Charlotte Brontë
‘On the Death of Anne Brontë’ by Charlotte Brontë describes the poet’s grief over her beloved sister’s death and her relief that Anne’s suffering has ended.
The Voice by Thomas Hardy
‘The Voice’ was written after Thomas Hardy’s wife died in 1912. It was published in Poems 1912–13, an elegiac sequence that responds to Emma’s death.
At Castle Boterel by Thomas Hardy
‘At Castle Boterel’ was written in 1913. The poem remembers a certain moment in life that is associated with a deeply significant memory.
Elegy For My Father’s Father by James K. Baxter
‘Elegy For My Father’s Father’ was written by James K. Baxter. The poem has only a single stanza with 38 lines, which develop a set of responses to death.
Anything Can Happen by Seamus Heaney
‘Anything Can Happen’ depicts a contemporary anxiety while referring to a mythological past. The poem has four quatrains with no fixed rhyme-scheme.
Funeral Blues by W.H. Auden
‘Funeral Blues,’ also known as ‘Stop all the Clocks,’ is arguably Auden’s most famous poem. It was first published in ‘The Year’s Poetry’ in 1938.
O Captain! My Captain! by Walt Whitman
Saddened by the results of the American civil war, Walt Whitman wrote the elegy, ‘O Captain! My Captain!’ in memory of deceased American President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. The civil war occurred during his lifetime with Whitman a staunch supporter of unionists.