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.
Stafford Afternoons by Carol Ann Duffy
Duffy’s ‘Stafford Afternoons’ is all about a child losing her way in the adult world and coming across an offensive scene that would leave its dark imprints in her mind.
Air Raid by Chinua Achebe
‘Air Raid’ by Chinua Achebe is a poem that provides a glimpse into the Nigerian/Biafran Civil War using symbolism and dark humor.
A Day (I’ll Tell You How The Sun Rose) by Emily Dickinson
‘A Day’ by Emily Dickinson is a lyrical poem describing sunrise and sunset. In a metaphysical sense, it also portrays the beauty of life and the uncertainty of death.
White Apples by Donald Hall
The poet of ‘White Apples’ Donald Hall uses plain language and a simple style to describe the effect of a loved one’s death in a speaker’s mind. The way he misses his father is described in this poem.
There is another sky by Emily Dickinson
In the beautiful poem, ‘There is another sky,’ Dickinson addresses themes that are common to Shakespearean sonnets. These include writing as a way of preserving experience and beauty.
I Am Offering this Poem by Jimmy Santiago Baca
‘I Am Offering this Poem’ by Jimmy Santiago Baca taps into what most lovers of poetry probably already know, that poetry supplies spiritual and emotional sustenance to humankind. It was published in 1979 in “Immigrants in Our Own Land.”
Animal Crackers by Richard de Zoysa
‘Animal Crackers’ by Richard de Zoysa describes the political situation in Sir Lanka through the drawing of symbolic animals.
Last Hope by Paul Verlaine
‘Last Hope’ by Paul Verlaine describes the love which exists between two people and how that love might be a way for the speaker to survive.
Dark August by Derek Walcott
‘Dark August’ by Derek Walcott describes the dark life a speaker is forced to live when someone he depends on abandons him.
Rosalind’s Madrigal by Thomas Lodge
‘Rosalind’s Madrigal’ by Thomas Lodge describes the intense love the speaker, Rosalind, feels, and how it moves within her like a bee.
There Will Come Soft Rains by Sara Teasdale
‘There Will Come Soft Rains’ is a beautiful, image-rich poem. In it, Teasdale describes the impact, or lack thereof, that humanity really has on the natural world.
Dust of Snow by Robert Frost
‘Dust of Snow’ by Robert Frost is a simple tale of how a speaker’s mood was changed by a snowfall. A love of nature is enough to elevate the speaker into a happier state of mind.
Fast Rode the Knight by Stephen Crane
“Fast Rode the Knight” by Stephen Crane is a story of a zealous “knight” rushing into battle in order to rescue his “lady”.
Anecdote of the Jar by Wallace Stevens
‘Anecdote of the Jar’ is a poem that expresses, through the story of “a jar” and “a hill,” the progressive overtaking of industry over nature.
The Story Of The Cat That Drank The Sea by Riyas Qurana
In ‘The Story Of The Cat That Drank The Sea’ Riyas Qurana has used a very simple analogy to uncover the identity crisis an addict faces.
Author Never Dies by Riyas Qurana
‘Author Never Dies’, by Riyas Qurana, is a poem that utilizes the metaphor of “the bird” to express how elusive writing and wording can be.
Warming Her Pearls by Carol Ann Duffy
‘Warming Her Pearls’ by Carol Ann Duffy is a poem in which a servant girl reveals her love for her mistress, as she describes wearing her pearls throughout the day.
Punishment by Seamus Heaney
‘Punishment’ is featured in North, a poetry collection published in 1975. North seeks for images and symbols to convey violence and political conflicts.
The Truly Great by Stephen Spender
In Stephen Spender’s Poem ‘The Truly Great’, he discusses the traits of heroes who have passed away before us.
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.
Historic Evening by Arthur Rimbaud
‘Historic Evening’ is the poem number 32 or 36 in Les Illuminations, depending on the edition and is a prose poem consisting of paragraphs.