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.
Publication year 2020
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, African American Literature, Mythology
Publication year 2006
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death
Publication year 1918
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: War, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Identity: Masculinity, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Lyric Poem, Military / War, Grief / Death, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, History: European, WWI / World War I, British Literature, The Lost Generation
Publication year 1975
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Relationships: Family
Tags Lyric Poem, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Mental Illness, Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture, Mythology
Louise Glück is among the most lauded poets in the American canon. Glück’s writing is often surgically precise in terms of formal craft, and reveals a deep emotional complexity. She addresses sadness, mourning, trauma, and individual suffering metaphorically through the natural world, mythology, autobiographical events, or universal truths. She is known for alluding to cultural myths and personas in her work, some of which appear in “Gretel in Darkness” through the perspective of young Gretel... Read Gretel in Darkness Summary
Publication year 1951
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: The Future, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Nation
Tags Lyric Poem, Harlem Renaissance, African American Literature, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Race / Racism, History: U.S., Urban Development
Publication year 2006
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Psychology, American Literature
Publication year 1992
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hope
Tags Lyric Poem, Depression / Suicide, Mental Illness, Health / Medicine
Publication year 1995
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Beauty
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Free verse, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality
Publication year 1922
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race
Tags Lyric Poem, African American Literature, Race / Racism
Publication year 1942
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Space & The Universe
Publication year 1792
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place
Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, British Literature, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Age of Enlightenment
Publication year 1974
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Love / Sexuality, British Literature, History: World, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2000
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, History: U.S.
Publication year 1959
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Confessional
Publication year 1955
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Philosophy, Relationships
Publication year 1891
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Philosophy, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Animals
Publication year 1860
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Transcendentalism
Publication year 1850
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Love / Sexuality, Religion / Spirituality, Victorian Period
Publication year 2002
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Marriage
Tags Spoken Word Poetry, Love / Sexuality, Relationships
Publication year 1956
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags The Beat Generation, Lyric Poem, Mental Illness, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Social Justice, American Literature, Education, Education, History: World, LGBTQ, Classic Fiction
American Beat-era poet Allen Ginsberg began writing “Howl” as a private recollection for friends, though he later published the long poem in his 1956 book Howl and Other Poems. Also known as “Howl: For Carl Solomon,” the poem cemented Ginsberg’s status as a prophet-poet in the romantic literature vein of Walt Whitman and William Blake (two major influences). “Footnote for Howl,” written in 1955, is the final portion, though it’s not always included with the... Read Howl Summary