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.

On the Late Massacre in Piedmont

by John Milton

Publication year 1673

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Christian literature, Religion / Spirituality, Renaissance

... Read On the Late Massacre in Piedmont Summary

On the train the woman standing

by Claudia Rankine

Publication year 2014

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, African American Literature

... Read On the train the woman standing Summary

On Turning Ten

by Billy Collins

Publication year 1995

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging

Tags Lyric Poem

... Read On Turning Ten Summary

Oranges

by Gary Soto

Publication year 1985

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Natural World: Food

Tags Lyric Poem, Narrative / Epic Poem, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Food, Poverty, American Literature

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Out, Out—

by Robert Frost

Publication year 1916

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Grief / Death

... Read Out, Out— Summary

Oxygen

by Mary Oliver

Publication year 2005

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Free verse, Love / Sexuality

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Parents

by William Meredith

Publication year 1980

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships

... Read Parents Summary

Peace

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Publication year 1879

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Society: War

Tags Lyric Poem, Victorian Period

... Read Peace Summary

Perhaps the World Ends Here

by Joy Harjo

Publication year 1994

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Society: War, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family

Tags Free verse

... Read Perhaps the World Ends Here Summary

Persimmons

by Li-Young Lee

Publication year 1986

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Identity: Language, Society: Immigration, Natural World: Objects, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Food

Tags Lyric Poem, Ekphrastic, Free verse, Relationships, Immigration / Refugee, Arts / Culture, Confessional, Asian Literature

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Pied Beauty

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Publication year 1918

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Victorian Period, Science / Nature, Religion / Spirituality

... Read Pied Beauty Summary

Planetarium

by Adrienne Rich

Publication year 1974

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Space & The Universe, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity

Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Relationships

... Read Planetarium Summary

Poem for Haruko

by June Jordan

Publication year 2005

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality

... Read Poem for Haruko Summary

Postcard from Kashmir

by Agha Shahid Ali

Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Immigration / Refugee

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Postcolonial Love Poem

by Natalie Diaz

Publication year 2020

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Colonialism / Postcolonialism, Gender / Feminism, History: World, LGBTQ

... Read Postcolonial Love Poem Summary

Prayer

by Dana Gioia

Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Life/Time: Mortality & Death

Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death

... Read Prayer Summary

Prayer to the Masks

by Léopold Sédar Senghor

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