The Penitent
by Anne Brontë
‘The Penitent’ by Anne Brontë is a religious poem about repentant souls. The poem portrays its subject’s pursuit of salvation while encouraging them to hold onto their newfound faith.
The Pulley
by George Herbert
‘The Pulley’ by George Herbert speaks on one part of the Christian creation story in which God chose to imbue humanity with blessings.
The Relic
by John Donne
‘The Relic’ by John Donne describes the nature of miracles, and the spiritual love that exists between the speaker and his lover.
The Retreat
by Henry Vaughan
‘The Retreat’ is one of Henry Vaughan’s best-known metaphysical poems. This poem explores how the poet is derailed from purity as a grown-up man and his longing for returning to the blissful state of everlastingness.
The Road
by Nancy Fotheringham Cato
‘The Road’ is simultaneously a thrilling car journey at night and a deeply personal mediation on time, humanity and the natural world.
The Slave in the Dismal Swamp
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
‘The Slave in the Dismal Swamp’ by H. W. Longfellow is written during a chaotic period in an attempt to garner support for the abolitionist cause.
The Undertaking
by John Donne
‘The Undertaking’ by John Donne is a poem about an elevated form of love that makes the speaker’s relationship superior to other people’s.
The World
by Henry Vaughan
‘The World’ by Henry Vaughan speaks on the ways men and women risk their place in eternity by valuing earthly pleasures over God.
This World is not Conclusion
by Emily Dickinson
‘This World is not Conclusion’ is a deeply thoughtful exploration of faith and doubt from one of America’s finest poets.
To God
by Ivor Gurney
‘To God’ is a poem of the early twentieth century. It expresses the plight of the poet persona as he laments to God about his mental illness.
To Look at Any Thing
by John Moffitt
‘To Look at Any Thing’ by John Moffitt highlights the importance of long observation in seeing beyond the superficial to a deeper reality.
Translation
by Anne Spencer
“Translation” describes a spiritual journey undertaken by the speaker and her companion. She wonders at the transcence they encounter.
Unending Love
by Rabindranath Tagore
‘Unending Love’ is a beautiful love poem written by the maestro and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, popularly known as the “Gurudev” of Bengali poetry. This poem taps on the themes of spiritual love and immortality.
Unholy Sonnet 13
by Mark Jarman
‘Unholy Sonnet 13’ appears in the modern American poet Mark Jarman’s award-winning poetry collection Questions for Ecclesiastes (1997). This sonnet is about a matured speaker’s belief in God and the miraculous beauty of nature.
Virtue
by George Herbert
‘Virtue’ is one of George Herbert’s spiritual poems stressing the need of keeping a virtuous soul. Herbert creates a contrast between earthly things and a virtuous soul to make his point.
Waking from Sleep
by Robert Bly
Robert Bly’s ‘Waking from Sleep’ is a symbolic poem about the awakening from the deep slumber of ignorance and thralldom. It evokes the imagery of a “harbor at dawn” in order to present this theme.
What Happened to the Elephant?
by Sujata Bhatt
‘What Happened to the Elephant?’ by Sujata Bhatt is inspired by Hindu beliefs. Specifically, she focuses on ideas of reincarnation and a child’s curiosity in it.
When Earth’s Last Picture Is Painted
by Rudyard Kipling
Published in 1922, Kipling’s ‘When Earth’s Last Picture Is Painted’ describes the “last” painting of mother earth and how it will be painted by the “good” people. No matter how this world ends, there will always be a new beginning, a new painting to admire.
Wilderness
by Carl Sandburg
‘Wilderness’ by Carl Sandburg describes the animalistic, spiritual life forces that reside inside one man’s body and the abilities he gained from them.
Wodwo
by Ted Hughes
‘Wodwo’ by Ted Hughes is a dramatic monologue that depicts a “Wodwo” or fictional human-like creature. The creature investigates his surroundings and repetitively questions his existence.