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.

September Suite

by Lucille Clifton

Publication year 2001

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags September 11 Attacks, Grief / Death, History: U.S.

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She Dwelt Among The Untrodden Ways

by William Wordsworth

Publication year 1800

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Grief / Death, British Literature

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Sheep In Fog

by Sylvia Plath

Publication year 1963

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Animals

Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Free verse, Confessional, Depression / Suicide

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She Walks in Beauty

by Lord George Gordon Byron (Lord Byron)

Publication year 1814

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Lyric Poem, Romanticism / Romantic Period, Education, Education, British Literature, Gothic Literature, History: World, Romance, Classic Fiction

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She Was a Phantom of Delight

by William Wordsworth

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love

Tags Lyric Poem, Love / Sexuality, British Literature

“She Was a Phantom of Delight” is a short lyric poem by the English poet William Wordsworth. Often regarded as the greatest of the English Romantics, Wordsworth composed “Phantom” in 1804 and published it in his 1807 collection Poems, in Two Volumes. He wrote it in praise of his wife Mary (née Hutchinson), whom he first met in 1787 and married in 1802. The poem explores three stages of development in William and Mary’s relationship... Read She Was a Phantom of Delight Summary

Shoulders

by Naomi Shihab Nye

Publication year 1994

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Society: Community, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Emotions/Behavior: Hope

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Parenting

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Siren Song

by Margaret Atwood

Publication year 1974

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mythology, Love / Sexuality

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Slam, Dunk, & Hook

by Yusef Komunyakaa

Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Lyric Poem, Sports, Race / Racism

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Sleeping with the Dictionary

by Harryette Mullen

Publication year 2002

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Language, Identity: Race

Tags African American Literature, Education, Education, History: U.S., American Literature

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Snow

by David Berman

Publication year 1999

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Relationships, Grief / Death, Science / Nature

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Snow-Bound: A Winter Idyl

by John Greenleaf Whittier

Publication year 1865

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family

Tags Lyric Poem, Science / Nature, Transcendentalism, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

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Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

by Anne Sexton

Publication year 1981

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Beauty

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Gender / Feminism, Mythology

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Some Afternoons She Does Not Pick Up the Phone

by Anne Carson

Publication year 2018

Genre Poem, Fiction

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

Tags Lyric Poem, Free verse

... Read Some Afternoons She Does Not Pick Up the Phone Summary

Some Days

by Billy Collins

Publication year 1998

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Lyric Poem, Relationships, American Literature

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Sometime During Eternity . . .

by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

Publication year 1958

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil

Tags The Beat Generation

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Song of a Second April

by Edna St. Vincent Millay

Publication year 1921

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Natural World: Environment, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia

Tags Lyric Poem

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Song of Myself

by Walt Whitman

Publication year 1856

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Lyric Poem, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Transcendentalism, Education, Education, History: U.S., American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

“Song of Myself” is a free verse poem by the American writer, journalist, and poet Walt Whitman. The poem is often classified as a work of transcendentalist literature. Originally self-published by Whitman himself in 1855, it was considerably revised and expanded over subsequent decades. In 1889, “Song of Myself” was released in its final form as part of the last edition of the collection Leaves of Grass. This final version—the version referenced in this guide—is... Read Song of Myself Summary