Baudelaire by Delmore Schwartz
Delmore Schwartz’s ‘Baudelaire’ is an emotional depiction of a poet’s desperation caused by poverty and the vicious cycle of hopelessness.
Mother, I bow to thee! by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
‘Mother, I bow to thee!’ by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay praises the country of India and conveys a speaker’s devotion to the land.
Transfiguration by Louisa May Alcott
‘Transfiguration’ by Louisa May Alcott is a personal poem written from the poet’s own perspective. It details her emotions surrounding her mother.
Telling the Bees by Lizette Woodworth Reese
‘Telling the Bees’ by Lizette Woodworth Reese describes how one speaker finds out about the loss of her mother from “Bathsheba / Telling the bees.”
A Child’s Sleep by Carol Ann Duffy
‘A Child’s Sleep’ by Carol Ann Duffy describes the ideal, peaceful sleep of a child, who is watched over by her mother as she dreams.
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.
My Brother at 3 AM by Natalie Diaz
My Brother at 3 am by Natalie Diaz is written in a Malay verse form called pantoum. He believes that something, or someone, “wants to kill [him]. ”
Stabat Mater by Sam Hunt
‘Stabat Mater’ by Sam Hunt is commentary on the complexities of time that can take a person from weak and timid, to strong and capable, and back to weak and timid.
Sonnet 3 by William Shakespeare
‘Sonnet 3: Look in thy glass and tell the face thou viewest’ is a procreation sonnet within the fair youth sequence, a series of poems that are addressed to an unknown young man.
To the Indifferent Women by Charlotte Anna Perkins Gilman
‘To the Indifferent Women’ is a piece directed at those that take for granted their happy lives and do nothing to help those that are in need of love and peace.
My First Weeks by Sharon Olds
‘My First Weeks’ is a description of the first two weeks in the life of a child and the pleasure she gets from nursing.
Miscegenation by Roberta Sykes
‘Miscegenation’ by Roberta Skyes is a poem about identity and recognition. It focuses on a little girl who is yearning to find and know her father.
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.
The Lost Woman by Patricia Beer
‘The Lost Woman’ by Patricia Beer is a poem about the relationship between a daughter and her mother; examining the life and death of her.
Love by Kate Clanchy
In this striking and original poem called ‘Love’ the poet examines her feelings towards her newborn son. Here is an analysis of the poem.
Morning Song by Sylvia Plath
‘Morning Song’ by Sylvia Plath is a powerful poem about motherhood. The speaker explores the emotions related to it as well as its implications.
Long Distance II by Tony Harrison
‘Long Distance II’ by Tony Harrison is a four-stanza poem that deals with the irrational manifestations that grief can take.
You’re by Sylvia Plath
‘You’re’ by Sylvia Plath is an ode to an unborn child. It explores the speaker’s expectations of motherhood and what emotions she’s going to feel.
Coming Home by Owen Sheers
‘Coming Home’ by Owen Sheers is a thoughtful poem that describes the transitory nature of life. The poet explores aging, family, and the impact of change.
A Frosty Night by Robert Graves
Robert Graves presents a compelling duologue in his poetic ballad, ‘A Frosty Night.’ He uses simple ideas and complex language to create a meaningful poem.
What Has Happened to Lulu? by Charles Causley
‘What Has Happened to Lulu?’ is a six-stanza poem that is told from the perspective of a child asking questions about another female’s disappearance.
The Land of Dreams by William Blake
In ‘The Land of Dreams,’ William Blake depicts a conversation between a father and his son. These two will talk about a dream that the little boy had.
Her First Week by Sharon Olds
The poem, ‘Her First Week’, inparticularly reveals both sides of motherhood and the many facets of feeling and emotions that come along with having a baby.