Poems of Conflict

The poems in this curated Collection center the theme of conflict within society, families, and relationships. Spanning hundreds of years of literary history, these titles examine the emotions and motivations behind conflict, as well as subthemes of peace and resolution, through settings that range from the battlefield to the kitchen table.

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 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 1977

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Immigration / Refugee, Social Justice, American Literature


Publication year 1925

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Harlem Renaissance, Race / Racism


Publication year 1850

Genre Poem, Fiction

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

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Victorian Period

Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s In Memoriam AHH explores the cosmic implications of the death of a college friend (his sister’s fiancé), poet Arthur Henry Hallam, who died quite unexpectedly in 1833 at the age of 22 most likely from a cerebral hemorrhage. The poem is among the most ambitiously conceived philosophical poems in the English language and a monument to the dynamics of how Christians themselves grapple with the thorny question of mortality. The work stands... Read In Memoriam Summary


Publication year 1860

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Lyric Poem, Social Justice, Grief / Death, Poverty, American Literature


Publication year 1988

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature


Publication year 1871

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Animals

Tags Mythology


Publication year 2017

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Society: Nation, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Climate Change


Publication year 1954

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, Relationships


Publication year 1999

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Romance, Love / Sexuality, American Literature, Food


Publication year 1988

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Lyric Poem, Immigration / Refugee, Philosophy, American Literature


Publication year 1816

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Music, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Romanticism / Romantic Period


Publication year 2007

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Lyric Poem


Publication year 1980

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships


Publication year 1974

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity

Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Relationships


Publication year 2020

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Gender / Feminism, History: World, LGBTQ


Publication year 2001

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Race / Racism


Publication year 1987

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, British Literature