Old Timers by Carl Sandburg
‘Old Timers’ by Carl Sandburg speaks on the nature of war. Sandburg alludes to the ways in which history repeats itself no matter which country or time period one is in.
My God! O Let Me Call Thee Mine! by Anne Brontë
‘My God! O Let Me Call Thee Mine!’ by Anne Brontë is a prayer that takes the form of a poem. In it, the speaker makes their requests known to God, while reverencing him.
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.
To Speak of Woe That Is In Marriage by Robert Lowell
‘To Speak of Woe That Is in Marriage’ by Robert Lowell is a memorable, confessional poem. In it, lol taps into the life experiences of a wife who is fearful of her lustful husband.
I Years had been from Home by Emily Dickinson
‘I Years had been from Home’ by Emily Dickinson is a thoughtful poem that speaks to one’s perceptions and fears of change.
The Soul has Bandaged Moments by Emily Dickinson
‘The Soul has Bandaged Moments’ by Emily Dickinson is a powerful poem that explores the human soul. It uses personification skillfully to describe the “Soul” and “Fear.”
I’ve Got an Apple Ready by John Walsh
John Walsh’s ‘I’ve Got an Apple Ready’ appears in The New Oxford Book of Children’s Verse. This poem features a child who is in a hurry and keeps an apple in case she needs it on the way.
We Were Simply Talking by Andrew Hudgins
‘We Were Simply Talking’ appears in the American poet Andrew Hudgins’ poetry collection Babylon in a Jar (1998). This piece is about a car accident the speaker managed to avoid.
Two Lines from the Brothers Grimm by Gregory Orr
‘Two Lines from the Brothers Grimm’ by Gregory Orr is a short and impactful poem. In it, the speaker describes approaching dangers and the need to escape them with his sibling.
The Rear-Guard by Siegfried Sassoon
Read Siegfried Sassoon’s ‘The Rear-Guard’ with a complete summary, analysis, and context to the war poem, about a soldier’s journey.
On the Beach at Fontana by James Joyce
‘On the Beach at Fontana’ by James Joyce is a poem about paternal love and protectiveness. Read the poem with, a summary and complete analysis.
Postfeminism by Brenda Shaughnessy
‘Postfeminism’ by Brenda Shaughnessy is a powerful poem that uses imagery to depict a woman’s experience in the world while alluding to the phases of feminism.
Storm Fear by Robert Frost
‘Storm Fear’ by Robert Frost is a memorable poem. In it, the speaker describes hiding inside his home, trying to protect his family from a storm.
Being Brave at Night by Edgar Albert Guest
‘Being Brave at Night’ is written by the American poet Edgar Albert Guest and it was published in his poetry collection Rhymes of Childhood. The speaker of this piece talks about how he is not afraid of anything that comes across to terrify him at night.
Parade’s End by Daljit Nagra
‘Parade’s End’ was published in the British poet Daljit Nagra’s debut collection “Look We Have Coming to Dover!” published in 2007. This poem taps on the themes of racism and the suffering of Asian immigrants in the UK in the 20th century.
To God by Ivor Gurney
‘To God’ is a poem of the early twentieth century. It expresses the plight of the poet persona as he laments to God about his mental illness.
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.
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.
The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt
‘The Spider and the Fly’ by Mary Howitt describes the entrapment of a silly fly who gives into her own vanity and loses her life to a cunning spider.
The Casualty by Ted Hughes
‘The Casualty’ by Ted Hughes describes an apathetic group of onlooker’s and their inability to assist when they witness a plane crash.
Love’s Language by Ella Wheeler Wilcox
‘Love’s Language’ by Ella Wheeler Wilcox describes how Love speaks through the emotions, actions and inactions of soon to be, or already established, lovers
Stages by Hermann Hesse
‘Stages’ by Hermann Hesse describes how death is only a stage through which one progresses during life. The speaker wants death to be embraced.
Low Barometer by Robert Bridges
‘Low Barometer’ by Robert Bridges describes a world in which ghosts are brought from the afterlife into the present during a storm.
The Phantom Horsewoman by Thomas Hardy
‘The Phantom Horsewoman’ by Thomas Hardy describes a man plagued by a reoccurring vision of a lost “horsewoman” throughout every moment of his life.
The House of Ghosts by Margaret Widdemer
‘The House of Ghosts’ by Margaret Widdemer describes a speaker’s nightmare in which she fears not being remembered by her family members.
Hearing the Battle.—July 21, 1861 by Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt
‘Hearing the Battle.—July 21, 1861’ by Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt describes one speaker’s curiosity regarding the happenings of a distant battle.