Poetry: Family & Home

In this Collection, we've gathered a selection of poems focused on themes related to Family & Home. Through rhyme and verse, the poets represented in this Collection muse and lament upon themes that include the complexities of familial relationships and love, childhood nostalgia, and the concept of home.

The Paper Nautilus

by Marianne Moore

Publication year 1961

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Relationships

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The Victims

by Sharon Olds

Publication year 1984

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger

Tags Lyric Poem, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, American Literature

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Things We Carry on the Sea

by Wang Ping

Publication year 2018

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Immigration / Refugee, History: Asian

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To a Daughter Leaving Home

by Linda Pastan

Publication year 1998

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family

Tags Lyric Poem, Parenting, American Literature

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Ulysses

by Gwendolyn Brooks

Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Race

Tags LGBTQ, Black Arts Movement, Poverty

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Wade in the Water

by Tracy K. Smith

Publication year 2018

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, African American Literature, Mythology, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

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When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities

by Chen Chen

Publication year 2017

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family

Tags Inspirational, Race / Racism, Modern Classic Fiction, Asian Literature, LGBTQ

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Young

by Anne Sexton

Publication year 1962

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Lyric Poem, Confessional, Science / Nature

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