Short Poems

Our Short Poems Collection highlights the power of poetry through titles that make an impact in few words. These bite-sized selections offer a convenient starting place for readers new to analyzing poetry or anyone who appreciates short-form verse and its ability to move and inspire.

300 Goats

by Naomi Shihab Nye

Publication year 2016

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Animals

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Abandoned Farmhouse

by Ted Kooser

Publication year 1980

Genre Poem, Fiction

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Abend Der Worte

by Paul Celan

Publication year 1950

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt

Tags Lyric Poem, Modernism, Post-War Era, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Grief / Death, History: European, WWII / World War II, Holocaust

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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 Brave And Startling Truth

by Maya Angelou

Publication year 1995

Genre Poem, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Society: War, Relationships: Teams, Life/Time: The Future, Natural World: Space & The Universe

Tags Free verse, Lyric Poem, Spoken Word Poetry, Politics / Government, History: World, Military / War, Grief / Death, American Literature

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A Bronzeville Mother Loiters in Mississippi...

by Gwendolyn Brooks

Publication year 1960

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Race / Racism, African American Literature

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Absalom and Achitophel

by John Dryden

Publication year 1681

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Satire, Politics / Government, Restoration, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

John Dryden’s “Absalom and Achitophel” was first published in 1681, in direct response to a political crisis faced by King Charles II from 1679 to 1681. In what became known as the “Exclusion Crisis,” the king’s opponents in Parliament tried to exclude Charles’s brother James from the succession on the grounds that he was a Roman Catholic. “Absalom and Achitophel” is a satiric narrative poem in which Dryden uses a biblical allegory to discuss the... Read Absalom and Achitophel Summary

Abuelito Who

by Sandra Cisneros

Publication year 1922

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Lyric Poem

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A Clock stopped—

by Emily Dickinson

Publication year 1896

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Fate, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Lyric Poem

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A Complaint

by William Wordsworth

Publication year 1807

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Grief

Tags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period

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Acquainted with the Night

by Robert Frost

Publication year 1928

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Lyric Poem, Depression / Suicide

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Act of Union

by Seamus Heaney

Publication year 1975

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, Trauma / Abuse / Violence

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Adam's Song

by Derek Walcott

Publication year 1985

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

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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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A Dream Within a Dream

by Edgar Allan Poe

Publication year 1849

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Romanticism / Romantic Period, Grief / Death, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, American Literature, Gothic Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

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Advice to My Son

by Peter Meinke

Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Lyric Poem, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Parenting, American Literature

Among Peter Meinke’s most anthologized poems, “Advice to My Son” is best known for its humorous, ironic tone and contemporary interpretation of traditional rhyme structure. First published in 1964 in The Antioch Review, the poem was anthologized in the volume Liquid Paper: New and Selected Poems (1991), published by the Pittsburgh Press. According to Meinke, he had little idea that the poem would so deeply resonate with readers when he first wrote it as a... Read Advice to My Son Summary

A Far Cry from Africa

by Derek Walcott

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

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