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.
Publication year 1929
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships, Love / Sexuality
Publication year 1860
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude
Tags Lyric Poem, Free verse
Publication year 1947
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Free verse, Race / Racism, History: U.S.
Publication year 2012
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Race / Racism, History: U.S.
Publication year 1986
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, American Literature, Food
Publication year 1922
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Lyric Poem, Existentialism, Harlem Renaissance
Publication year 1918
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Religion / Spirituality, Victorian Period, Industrial Revolution, Education, Education
Publication year 2016
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family
Tags Free verse, Parenting, Science / Nature, Gender / Feminism
Publication year 2020
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature, Mythology
Publication year 1992
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Lyric Poem, Depression / Suicide, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
Publication year 1891
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Philosophy, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Animals
Publication year 2005
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags War On Terrorism / Iraq War
Publication year 1916
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Modernism, Class
Publication year 1986
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Immigration / Refugee, Mythology
Publication year 1977
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Philosophy, Science / Nature, Latin American Literature, Animals
Publication year 1910
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Daughters & Sons
Tags Inspirational, Lyric Poem, Relationships
... Read If— Summary
Publication year 1929
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Grief / Death
Publication year 1891
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: Economics, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Mortality & Death
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Business / Economics
Publication year 1919
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Grief / Death, Race / Racism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, African American Literature, Harlem Renaissance, Education, Education, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2008
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race
Tags Lyric Poem, Harlem Renaissance, Race / Racism, Social Justice