Death, be not Proud (Holy Sonnet 10) by John Donne
by John Donne
‘Death, be not Proud’ by John Donne is one of the poet’s best poems about death. It tells the listener not to fear Death as he keeps morally corrupt company and only leads to Heaven.
Nothing Gold Can Stay by Robert Frost
by Robert Frost
The poem, ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’, by Robert Frost, is about the impermanence of life. It describes the fleeting nature of beauty by discussing time’s effect on nature.
Lenore by Edgar Allan Poe
by Edgar Allan Poe
‘Lenore’ is a haunting poem in which Edgar Allan Poe speaks on themes of mourning and loss. He explores true sorrow and what it looks like.
Sonnet 71 by William Shakespeare
by William Shakespeare
Read Shakespeare’s Sonnet 71, ‘No longer mourn for me when I am dead,’ with a summary and complete analysis of the poem.
Funeral Blues by W.H. Auden
by W.H. Auden
‘Funeral Blues,’ also known as ‘Stop all the Clocks,’ is arguably Auden’s most famous poem. It was first published in ‘The Year’s Poetry’ in 1938.
Explore more poems about Death
Because I could not stop for Death by Emily Dickinson
by Emily Dickinson
‘Because I could not stop for death,’ Dickinson’s best-known poem, is a depiction of one speaker’s journey into the afterlife with personified “Death” leading the way.
Death of a Young Woman by Gillian Clarke
by Gillian Clarke
Explore ‘Death of a Young Woman,’ where Clarke depicts how a loved one’s death lets a person free from their inward, endless suffering.
Parrot by Stevie Smith
by Stevie Smith
‘Parrot’ is a moving exploration of imprisonment and suffering set against the backdrop of the modern, urban world.
I felt a Funeral, in my Brain by Emily Dickinson
by Emily Dickinson
‘I felt a Funeral, in my Brain’ by Emily Dickinson is a popular poem. In it, she depicts a very unusual idea of life after death.
‘Twas the old — road — through pain— by Emily Dickinson
by Emily Dickinson
‘Twas the old — road — through pain—’ by Emily Dickinson describes a woman’s path from life to death and her entrance into Heaven.
I died for beauty but was scarce by Emily Dickinson
by Emily Dickinson
‘I died for beauty but was scarce’ by Emily Dickinson reflects her fascination for death and the possible life to follow.
I heard a Fly buzz – when I died by Emily Dickinson
by Emily Dickinson
‘I heard a Fly Buzz – when I died’ by Emily Dickinson is an unforgettable depiction of the moments before death. The speaker emphasizes the stillness of the room and the movements of a single fly.
Requiem by Robert Louis Stevenson
by Robert Louis Stevenson
‘Requiem’ by Robert Louis Stevenson is a poem about accepting death and finding peace in going “home” after a long life.
Oddjob, a Bull Terrier by Derek Walcott
by Derek Walcott
‘Oddjob, a Bull Terrier’ by Derek Walcott is a thoughtful, emotional poem about loss and how unbearable the death of a pet can be.
Two Armies by Stephen Spender
by Stephen Spender
‘Two Armies’ by Stephen Spender describes two armies on a devastating battlefield where every individual is suffering. Their common humanity is highlighted.
[Buffalo Bill ‘s] by E. E. Cummings
by E.E. Cummings
E. Cummings’ free-verse poem ‘[Buffalo Bill ’s]’ taps on the popular theme of the inevitability of death. It includes a civil, indifferent depiction of death.
1861 by Walt Whitman
by Walt Whitman
‘1861’ by Walt Whitman is a moving Civil War poem written from the perspective of a soldier. He details the difficulty of a particular year.
3 November 1984 by Sujata Bhatt
by Sujata Bhatt
In ‘3 November 1984,’ Indian-English poet Sujata Bhatt shows how history plays a vital role in the process of writing poetry, and their interconnectedness.
35/10 by Sharon Olds
by Sharon Olds
’35/10’ by Sharon Olds is a moving poem about the poet’s relationship with her daughter. The latter is coming into her own while the former is growing old.
A Coffin is a Small Domain by Emily Dickinson
by Emily Dickinson
‘A Coffin—is a small Domain’ by Emily Dickinson explores death. It is characteristic of much of the poet’s work in that it clearly addresses this topic and everything that goes along with it.
A Complaint by William Wordsworth
by William Wordsworth
In the poem ‘A Complaint’ by William Wordsworth, the first and primary emotion is loss – loss of ideals, loss of friendship, loss of love.
A Country Life by Randall Jarrell
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.
A Day (I’ll Tell You How The Sun Rose) by Emily Dickinson
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.
A Dirge by Christina Rossetti
by Christina Rossetti
‘A Dirge’ by Christina Rossetti is a thoughtful and moving poem about death. It speaks on the birth and death of an important person in the speaker’s life.
A Dirge Without Music by Edna St. Vincent Millay
by Edna St. Vincent Millay
‘A Dirge Without Music’ by Edna St. Vincent Millay is a beautiful dirge. The poet uses clear and lyrical language to describe how lovers and thinkers alike go into the darkness of death with a little remaining.
A Dream of Death by William Butler Yeats
by William Butler Yeats
‘A Dream of Death’ is a poem about one such dream that uses strong imagery to build an image that is touching both with and without its historic context.