Poetry: Animal Symbolism

In the Poetry: Animal Symbolism Collection, we've gathered a selection of poems that represent abstract ideas using animals. For hundreds of years, poets have turned to the animal kingdom and natural world for inspiration. This Collection highlights the many ways poets have used mammals, fish, birds, and other creatures to represent themes such as love, grief, and mortality.

300 Goats

by Naomi Shihab Nye

Publication year 2016

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Animals

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A Bird, came down the Walk

by Emily Dickinson

Publication year 1891

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Environment

Tags Animals, Science / Nature

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A Dog Has Died

by Pablo Neruda

Publication year 1999

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Animals, Religion / Spirituality, Relationships, Latin American Literature

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An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog

by Oliver Goldsmith

Publication year 1766

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Animals, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Children's Literature, Humor, Classic Fiction

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Another Reason Why I Don’t Keep A Gun In The House

by Billy Collins

Publication year 2003

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Animals, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Social Justice

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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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Birdfoot’s Grampa

by Joseph Bruchac

Publication year 1975

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships, Animals

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Black Cat

by Rainer Maria Rilke

Publication year 1923

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals

Tags Lyric Poem, Philosophy, Animals

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Death

by William Butler Yeats

Publication year 1933

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Modernism, Animals

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Five Flights Up

by Elizabeth Bishop

Publication year 1974

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Animals

Tags Lyric Poem, Free verse, Animals

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"Hope" Is the Thing with Feathers

by Emily Dickinson

Publication year 1891

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Philosophy, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Animals

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Identity

by Julio Noboa

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

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Mr. Edwards and the Spider

by Robert Lowell

Publication year 1946

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

Tags Christian literature, Animals, American Literature

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Mr. Mistoffelees

by T. S. Eliot

Publication year 1938

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals

Tags Lyric Poem, Animals, Modernism, Mythology

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Ode to a Large Tuna in the Market

by Pablo Neruda

Publication year 1957

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Animals, Science / Nature, Grief / Death, Latin American Literature, Food

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Old Pond

by Basho

Publication year 1686

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Environment, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Asian Literature, Lyric Poem, Japanese Literature, Animals

Many scholars agree that “Old Pond” (1686) by Matsuo Bashō is one of the most—if not the most—famous haiku of all time. The term “haiku” translates as “play verse,” and though “Old Pond” appears whimsical and simple—a frog jumping into water and the subsequent splash—Bashō utilizes various literary devices such as key words and onomatopoeia to ensure this three-line poem is both didactic and enjoyable. “Old Pond” is instructional, especially for its use of common... Read Old Pond Summary