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 2008
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Race
Tags Lyric Poem, Harlem Renaissance, Race / Racism, Social Justice
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 1891
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Fame, Natural World: Animals
Tags Lyric Poem, American Literature, Children's Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1913
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Natural World: Objects
Tags Classic Fiction, Education, Education
Publication year 1925
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Harlem Renaissance, Race / Racism
Publication year 1850
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Victorian Period
Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s In Memoriam AHH explores the cosmic implications of the death of a college friend (his sister’s fiancé), poet Arthur Henry Hallam, who died quite unexpectedly in 1833 at the age of 22 most likely from a cerebral hemorrhage. The poem is among the most ambitiously conceived philosophical poems in the English language and a monument to the dynamics of how Christians themselves grapple with the thorny question of mortality. The work stands... Read In Memoriam Summary
Publication year 1951
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Identity: Sexuality
Tags Free verse, Confessional, Modernism
Publication year 1989
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Appearance & Reality
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 1961
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Gender
Tags Lyric Poem, Parenting, Gender / Feminism
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 Values/Ideas: Art, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, Arts / Culture, American Literature
Publication year 1889
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose
Tags Lyric Poem, Disability, Inspirational, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1939
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family
Tags Lyric Poem
Publication year 1860
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Lyric Poem, Social Justice, Grief / Death, Poverty, 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 1926
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Race
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, African American Literature, Harlem Renaissance, Black Arts Movement
Publication year 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Grief / Death, Social Justice, Race / Racism, American Literature, African American Literature
Publication year 1807
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Tags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period
Publication year 1949
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Lyric Poem, WWII / World War II
Publication year 1871
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Natural World: Animals
Tags Mythology