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.

My Father's Love Letters

by Yusef Komunyakaa

Publication year 2001

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Lyric Poem, African American Literature

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My Father's Song

by Simon J. Ortiz

Publication year 1976

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships, American Literature

Simon J. Ortiz originally published “My Father’s Song” in his poetry/story collection entitled A Good Journey (1977). Ortiz is a major writer in the Native American Renaissance, a movement which began in the 1960s and marked a significant increase in the production of literary works by Native Americans in the United States. The poem was written at a time when Ortiz was collecting and recounting stories from Indigenous tribes across the United States, and his... Read My Father's Song Summary

My Heart Leaps Up

by William Wordsworth

Publication year 1807

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Joy

Tags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, British Literature, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

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My Last Duchess

by Robert Browning

Publication year 1842

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Victorian Period, Education, Education, British Literature, History: World, Victorian Literature / Period, Classic Fiction

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My Love Sent Me a List

by Olena Kalytiak Davis

Publication year 2013

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships

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My Papa's Waltz

by Theodore Roethke

Publication year 1942

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, American Literature, Education, Education, History: World, Classic Fiction

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Myth

by Natasha Trethewey

Publication year 2007

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Lyric Poem

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My Uncle’s Favorite Coffee Shop

by Naomi Shihab Nye

Publication year 1998

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Life/Time: The Past

Tags Lyric Poem, Immigration / Refugee, Middle Eastern Literature

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Nature

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Publication year 1878

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature

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Necessities of Life

by Adrienne Rich

Publication year 1966

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Fame, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Literature, Identity: Gender

Tags Lyric Poem, Arts / Culture, Gender / Feminism, American Literature, Confessional

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Night

by William Blake

Publication year 1789

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals

Tags Romanticism / Romantic Period, Religion / Spirituality, History: World, Arts / Culture

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Nineteen

by Elizabeth Alexander

Publication year 1990

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Love / Sexuality, Vietnam War

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No Man Is an Island

by John Donne

Publication year 1624

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Community, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Allegory / Fable / Parable, History: European, Relationships, British Literature, History: World, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality

... Read No Man Is an Island Summary