The Political Poems Collection exemplifies the power of poetry to inspire change and challenge injustice. Centering on themes related to politics and governance in a broad range of settings and cultures, these poems interrogate and challenge the systems and people who hold power in society.
Publication year 1975
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 1962
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Colonialism, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: War, Identity: Language, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Lyric Poem, History: African , Afro-Caribbean Literature
Publication year 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Mental Health, Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Indigenous
Tags Lyric Poem, History: U.S., American Literature, Food, Race / Racism, History: World
Joy Harjo is a seminal voice in the US poetry canon, and she has long been an advocate for Native American women in the literary world. Her work has merited tremendous acclaim, such as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers Circle of the Americas, the Josephine Miles Poetry Award, the Wallace Stevens Award from the Academy of American Poets, the William Carlos Williams Award from the Poetry Society of America, and the American... Read An American Sunrise Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Nation
Tags Social Justice, Race / Racism
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
Publication year 1956
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Identity: Sexuality, Society: Globalization, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Literature, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Arts / Culture, The Beat Generation, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction
“A Supermarket in California” is a prose poem by the American poet Allen Ginsberg. Written in 1955, it appears alongside Ginsberg’s most well-known work, “Howl,” in his book Howl and Other Poems. Published November 1, 1956 by Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s City Lights Books as part of their Pocket Poets Series, Howl and Other Poems was subject to an obscenity trial in 1957 due to its use of sexually explicit language. The trial eventually ruled in the... Read A Supermarket in California Summary
Publication year 1971
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Gender / Feminism, Narrative / Epic Poem, American Literature
The American writer Marge Piercy wrote “Barbie Doll.” Originally published in Moving Out (1971), the poem also appears in her 1982 collection, Circles on the Water. A highly descriptive poem, “Barbie Doll” offers staunch diction and vivid, stereotypical imagery of a girl who grows up and dies by suicide as an adult. This free verse poem is an example of second-wave feminist thought, also known as the Women’s Liberation Movement, something Piercy explores here through... Read Barbie Doll Summary
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
Publication year 1946
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Holocaust, History: World
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 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 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Life/Time: The Future, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Literature, Society: Community, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Immigration, Identity: Race, Identity: Language, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Lyric Poem, Diversity, Social Justice, History: U.S., Black Lives Matter, Immigration / Refugee, 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 1985
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Lyric Poem, Immigration / Refugee
Publication year 1794
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Lyric Poem, Industrial Revolution, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Poverty, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
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 1945
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Arts / Culture, African Literature, Politics / Government
“Prayer to the Masks” is a poem by influential Senegalese poet and politician Léopold Sédar Senghor, published in 1945 in his collection Chants d’ombre (Songs of Shadow). Senghor often used his work to illuminate African history and contemplate the consequences of colonialism. Educated in Paris, Senghor was a founding member of the artistic and political movement Négritude, which emphasized pride in African and Black identity and history, which he practiced through his poetry. With “Prayer... Read Prayer to the Masks Summary
Publication year 1856
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Transcendentalism, Education, Education, History: U.S., American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction
“Song of Myself” is a free verse poem by the American writer, journalist, and poet Walt Whitman. The poem is often classified as a work of transcendentalist literature. Originally self-published by Whitman himself in 1855, it was considerably revised and expanded over subsequent decades. In 1889, “Song of Myself” was released in its final form as part of the last edition of the collection Leaves of Grass. This final version—the version referenced in this guide—is... Read Song of Myself Summary
Publication year 2001
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia
Tags Lyric Poem, Military / War