Poetry: Perseverance

This thematic Collection highlights poems centered on the experiences of perseverance and determination. These titles examine the human drive to overcome personal and social obstacles, such as racism. Representing hundreds of years of literary history, the Collection includes works by authors such as John Donne, Maya Angelou, Walt Whitman, and Kwame Alexander.

Again Later

by Martha Collins

Publication year 2020

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, American Literature

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America

by Walt Whitman

Publication year 1888

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Equality, Natural World: Place, Society: Community

Tags Free verse

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Apollo

by Elizabeth Alexander

Publication year 1992

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: Community, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism

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Approach of Winter

by William Carlos Williams

Publication year 1921

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Climate, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Lyric Poem

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A Psalm Of Life

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Publication year 1838

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, American Literature, Classic Fiction

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Ariel

by Sylvia Plath

Publication year 1965

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Free verse, Animals, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, Confessional, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), American Literature, History: World, Mental Illness, Classic Fiction

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As I Walk These Broad Majestic Days

by Walt Whitman

Publication year 1855

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt

Tags Lyric Poem, Technology

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A Wicker Basket

by Robert Creeley

Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Natural World: Food

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Love / Sexuality

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Break of Day

by John Donne

Publication year 1998

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Metaphysical, Science / Nature, British Literature

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Casey at the Bat

by Ernest Lawrence Thayer

Publication year 1888

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Sports

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Columbus

by Joaquin Miller

Publication year 1900

Genre Poem, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags History: World, History: U.S.

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dear white america

by Danez Smith

Publication year 2017

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, American Literature

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Death Be Not Proud

by John Donne

Publication year 1633

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

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Declaration

by Tracy K. Smith

Publication year 2018

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

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Digging

by Seamus Heaney

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Education, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Past, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Relationships, Agriculture, Lyric Poem, Education, Education

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Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

by Dylan Thomas

Publication year 1951

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Classic Fiction, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World

“Do not go gentle into that good night” is an iconic poem by 20th-century Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, who occupied a special place in the public imagination for his magnetic readings and the revival of Romantic themes in his poetry. This poem, which appeared in his 1952 collection In Country Sleep, remains a favorite in anthologies and popular culture for its universal content and unforgettable dual refrain. “Do not go gentle into that good night” is... Read Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night Summary

Dreams

by Linda Pastan

Publication year 1979

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death

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Dreams

by Nikki Giovanni

Publication year 1968

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Values/Ideas: Fame

Tags Satire, Lyric Poem, Race / Racism

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