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.
Docker by Seamus Heaney
‘Docker’ is a 1966 poem by Seamus Heaney which depicts the life of a dockworker in Belfast and explores his personal and religious sense of discord.
To Ireland in the Coming Times by William Butler Yeats
‘To Ireland in the Coming Times’ by William Butler Yeats is dedicated to the poet’s impact on Ireland’s political, social, and cultural landscape. It contains the poet’s beliefs about the nature of his verse.
To a Young Girl by William Butler Yeats
‘To a Young Girl’ by William Butler Yeats is a poem about a past love and how lovers know one another better than anyone else.
Snow by Louis MacNeice
‘Snow’ by Louis MacNeice looks like a straightforward poem about a winter scene, but the truth is much more complex.
The Throwback by Paul Muldoon
‘The Throwback’ by Paul Muldoon is a thoughtful poem. In it, the speaker celebrates his partner’s heritage and relates it back to Ancient Greece.
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.
Hymn to the New Omagh Road by John Montague
‘Hymn to the New Omagh Road’ by John Montague is a poem that uses the construction of a new road to show the influence of modernization on County Tyrone.
Exposure by Seamus Heaney
‘Exposure’ by Seamus Heaney discusses the poet’s role in a society and how he might contribute helpfully to the discourse of the time.
To A Shade by William Butler Yeats
‘To A Shade’ is a political poem that speaks on the treatment of Charles Parnell the leader of the Irish Parliamentary Party.
I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day by Gerard Manley Hopkins
‘I wake and feel the fell of dark, not day’ by Gerard Manley Hopkins tells of a speaker’s suffering as he tries to understand the role of God in his life.
Clearances by Seamus Heaney
‘Clearances’ forms part of a series of sonnets in which Heaney examines his relationship with his mother, and focuses on her death.
Weariness by Eva Gore-Booth
‘Weariness’ by Eva Gore-Booth describes a world weary speaker who is tired of living amongst the constant chatter of her everyday life.
A Memory by Lola Ridge
‘A Memory’ by Lola Ridge describes a speaker’s memories of a specific emotional night she spent with the listener on the shore of a tropic sea.
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.
Magdalen Walks by Oscar Wilde
‘Magdalen Walks’ by Oscar Wilde describes the coming of spring and the vibrant, continually moving elements which herald its arrival.
Thee, Thee, Only Thee by Thomas Moore
‘Thee, Thee, Only Thee’ by Thomas Moore describes the state of a speaker’s life as he uncontrollably obsesses over a woman he loves.
The Circus Animals’ Desertion by W.B. Yeats
‘The Circus Animals’ Desertion’ by W.B. Yeats describes moments of Yeats’ own experience when he struggled to find a theme to write on.
Meru by William Butler Yeats
‘Meru’ by William Butler Yeats describes the illusion of civilization and the importance of embarking on a spiritual journey.
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.
Please Hold by Ciaran O’Driscoll
‘Please Hold’ by Ciaran O’Driscoll speaks to a general frustration about the automated nature of contemporary life and the horror of being “on hold.”
Genetics by Sinéad Morrissey
‘Genetics’ by Sinéad Morrissey speaks on the composition of one’s body and how one is made of their mother, father, and their combined history.
The Song of Wandering Aengus by William Butler Yeats
‘The Song of Wandering Aengus’ by William Butler Yeats describes Aengus’ life-consuming quest to find a girl he once saw in his youth
The Garden of Eros by Oscar Wilde
‘The Garden of Eros’ describes a metaphorical garden that plays host to various flowers and the memories of some of the greatest English poets.
The Sad Shepherd by William Butler Yeats
‘The Sad Shepherd’ by William Butler Yeats describes one man’s deepest sorrow and his quest to share his emotions with whomever or whatever he can find.
The Ballad of Reading Gaol by Oscar Wilde
‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’ by Oscar Wilde is a heartbreaking depiction of the losses, betrayals, and tragedies that all ‘men’ suffer in their lifetime.
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.
He Wishes His Beloved Were Dead by William Butler Yeats
‘He Wishes His Beloved Were Dead’ by William Butler Yeats is a ballad in which one lover yearns for the death of the other so that they may be together as he wishes.
Brown Penny by William Butler Yeats
‘Brown Penny’ by William Butler Yeats is an expression of the various levels of honest “love” that follow us from birth to death.