When I Die by Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi
‘When I Die’ is an incredible Rumi poem about eternal life after death. The poet proposes not to grieve his death as it’s just a means to a new beginning, not an end.
A Subaltern by Siegfried Sassoon
In ‘A Subaltern’ the speaker catches a glimpse of the innocence and hope he thought the war had erased in a conversation with a junior military officer.
The Relic by John Donne
‘The Relic’ by John Donne describes the nature of miracles, and the spiritual love that exists between the speaker and his lover.
A Country Life by Randall Jarrell
‘A Country Life’ by Randall Jarrell gives a deeply felt depiction of the impacts of life, death and loneliness on one’s life before death finally comes.
The Poet’s Testament by George Santayana
‘The Poet’s Testament’ by George Santayana explores a speaker’s learned peace in death. He is content with his final contribution to the planet.
The Truth the Dead Know by Anne Sexton
‘The Truth the Dead Know’ by Anne Sexton is an emotional poem that speaks about traditions and attitudes around death, as well as Sexton’s response to loss in her own life.
Poppies on Ludlow Castle by Willa Cather
‘Poppies on Ludlow Castle’ by Willa Cather describes the nature of Ludlow Castle in Shropshire, England and the spectres of the past it holds.
The Buck in the Snow by Edna St. Vincent Millay
‘The Buck in the Snow’ by Edna St. Vincent Millay describes the power of death to cross all boundaries and inflict loss on even the most peaceful of times.
Mid-Term Break by Seamus Heaney
‘Mid-Term Break’ by Seamus Heaney describes the emotional turmoil experienced by a speaker who has lost a loved one in a traumatic way.
Death is Nothing at All by Henry Scott Holland
‘Death is Nothing at All’ by Henry Scott Holland speaks thoughtfully about the nature of death. The speaker explains that it’s not a real separation.
The Light of the House by Louise Imogen Guiney
‘The Light of the House’ by Louise Imogen Guiney describes the overwhelmingly positive memory that a dead man has on the day to day functions of a home.
A Refusal to Mourn the Death, by Fire, of a Child in London by Dylan Thomas
‘A Refusal to Mourn the Death, by Fire, of a Child in London’ by Dylan Thomas tells of a speaker’s inability to comprehend great losses.
A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
‘A Psalm of Life’ by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow is a thoughtful poem about life’s struggles. The poet addresses the best way to confront these difficulties on an everyday basis.
The Ivy Green by Charles Dickens
‘The Ivy Green’ by Charles Dickens describes the resilient characteristics of green ivy and its ability to make a feast of what humans leaves behind.
Mesopotamia by Rudyard Kipling
‘Mesopotamia’ by Rudyard Kipling describes the aftermath of the siege of Kut-al-Amara and those who do and do not feel the imapct of it.
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 Grave of Keats by Oscar Wilde
‘The Grave of Keats’ by Oscar Wilde describes the physical state of Keats’ grave and the emotional impact that his short life had on England.
Requiescat by Oscar Wilde
‘Requiescat’, by Oscar Wilde, is a mournful poem that describes the sorrow felt over the passing and burial of a young woman.
The Women Gather by Nikki Giovanni
‘The Women Gather’ is a short, free verse poem that speaks on how we judge one another and the essentially good nature of human beings.
The Answer by Sara Teasdale
‘The Answer’ by Sara Teasdale is a short lyric poem made out of two eight lines stanzas that are mostly written in free verse. Analysis of The Answer First Stanza When I go back to earth And all my joyous body Puts off the red and white That once had been so proud, If men should pass above With false and feeble pity, My dust will find a voice To answer them aloud: The speaker of ‘The Answer’, who is perhaps the poet herself, begins the poem by describing the future state of her body.
If I Was Dead by Carol Ann Duffy
‘If I Was Dead’ describes the many deaths that love is able to return one to life from. From drowning to cremation, the speaker rises like Lazarus.
An Arundel Tomb by Philip Larkin
‘An Arundel Tomb’ by Philip Larkin muses on themes of life, death, and the passage of time. The speaker alludes to the strength of love and how affecting a demonstration of it can be.
On Living and Leaving by Sums Paguia
‘On Living and Leaving’, by Sums Paguia, is a depressing poem which argues that those who have died are better off than those who are living.
The Chamber Over the Gate by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
The Chamber Over the Gate, written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, is a poem filled with emotion, faith, and history.