Touch Me by Stanley Kunitz
‘Touch Me’ by Stanley Kunitz is a moving poem about aging, the loss of identity, and desire. It explores what keeps people, and creatures of all varieties, going as they enter the final “season” of their life.
If you were coming in the Fall by Emily Dickinson
‘If you were coming in the Fall’ by Emily Dickinson is a meaningful poem about true love and a speaker’s willingness to wait for her lover to return.
Love is… by Adrian Henri
‘Love is…’ by Adrian Henri provides readers with various ways to consider love and how it tints even the smallest objects and experiences with more meaning.
The Sun Has Burst in the Sky by Jenny Joseph
‘The Sun Has Burst The Sky’ by Jenny Joseph uses hyperbolic images of nature to describe a speaker’s love for “you.” They suggest that incredible natural events occur because of the intensity of their love.
In the Light of the Moon by Delmira Agustini
‘In the Light of the Moon’ by Delmira Agustini explores the power of the moon. The speaker is drawn to the moon due to its white innocence and its power to soothe her soul.
Love on the Farm by D.H. Lawrence
‘Love on the Farm’ by D.H. Lawrence is a poem about the universality of love, passion, and death. Lawrence depicts these elements through the various lives observable on a farm.
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.
One’s-Self I Sing by Walt Whitman
‘One’s-Self I Sing’ by Walt Whitman is a short poem that explores a few of the themes Whitman is going to use in Inscriptions. The poem celebrates the beauty and wonder of the common and separate identities of humanity.
Fiddler Jones by Edgar Lee Masters
Masters’ ‘Fiddler Jones’ highlights how following one’s passion, no matter what it is, is always worthwhile and helps lead a life without any regrets. As the title says, this poem is about a wayward fiddler devoted to his passion.
There is a Garden in Her Face by Thomas Campion
‘There is a Garden in Her Face’ by Thomas Campion is a poem about a woman’s beauty. It also contains a warning to suitors that she won’t let anyone kiss her or come near her in any meaningful way.
Sea Grapes by Derek Walcott
‘Sea Grapes’ by Derek Walcott is a deep and interesting poem. In it, Walcott uses numerous allusions to convey a message about choosing between lust and responsibility.
The Rain by Robert Creeley
‘The Rain’ by Robert Creeley is an interesting and memorable poem about love. The speaker compares it through an extended metaphor to rain.
The Accompanist by William Matthews
‘The Accompanist’ by William Matthews is a direct and powerful poem about jazz and what music can accomplish.
Reunion by Charles Wright
‘Reunion’ by Charles Wright is an emotionally charged poem that expresses the author’s personal relationship to his writing. The author views his poetry as a way to make peace with the past.
I Want to Die While You Love Me by Georgia Douglas Johnson
‘I Want to Die While You Love Me’ by Georgia Douglas Johnson is a moving love poem. In it, the speaker addresses her desire to die before a love affair ends.
Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part by Michael Drayton
Since there’s no help, come let us kiss and part by Michael Drayton describe the state of and then the truth of a speaker’s relationship.
I Saw From the Beach by Thomas Moore
‘I Saw From the Beach’ by Thomas Moore is a thoughtful poem. It considers the soul and passion and how the two things change over time as one ages.
To a Little Invisible Being Who is Expected Soon to Become Visible by Anna Lætitia Barbauld
Anna Lætitia Barbauld’s ‘To a Little Invisible Being Who is Expected Soon to Become Visible’ is a heart-warming poem about a child who is about to be born.
The Rights of Women by Anna Lætitia Barbauld
‘The Rights of Women’ by Anna Lætitia Barbauld is a proto-feminist poem that intones the power that a woman might have if she resists social law and rises up to take control over the world.
Havisham by Carol Ann Duffy
Carol Ann Duffy’s ‘Havisham’ is a response to Charles Dickens’s portrayal of the character Miss Havisham in his famous novel Great Expectations. This poem refers to the character as “Havisham” rather than “Miss Havisham.”
Indeed, Indeed I Cannot Tell by Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau’s ‘Indeed, Indeed I cannot Tell’ was written about Ellen Sewall. This piece manages to relate with almost every living human being and communicates a feeling that is familiar for many.
